Abstract:
Trichosetin, a novel tetramic acid antibiotic produced in the dual culture of Catharanthus roseus callus and Trichoderma harzianum Hl 4, has been demonstrated to possess notable activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, before such antibiotic could be developed and used in clinical trials as a potential therapeutic agent against MRSA, extensive studies are needed to evaluate its safety. The present study attempts to examine both the DNA-damaging potential as well as the chromosome-breaking effect of trichosetin through the use of the Rec assay and micronucleus test, respectively. In the Rec assay, trichosetin was tested at three concentrations: 10 ppm, 100 ppm, and 1000 ppm. In the micronucleus test, trichosetin was administered intraperitoneally to the mice at 10 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg body weight. Both assays revealed that trichosetin is not mutagenic. We, however, suggest that further toxicity and mutagenicity studies using higher dosage levels of trichosetin should be conducted in order to establish its safety as a therapeutic agent.
