Efeito modulador da Ritalina® (metilfenidato) sobre a ação carcinogênica da doxorrubicina em Drosophila melanogaster

Introduction : Ritalin® (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant, derived from amphetamine. It has been known for its use in children and adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and alternatively for treatment of narcolepsy, obesity and as a stimulant for students. Objective : To evaluate the carcinogenic and/or anticarcinogenic effect of Ritalin®. Method : By means of the test for the detection of clones of epithelial tumors in Drosophila melanogaster. For this, wts +/+ mwh larvae were treated with the tumor inducer doxorubicin (0.4 mM) and with three different concentrations of Ritalin® (100; 200 and 400 μM). Results : Showed that Ritalin® evidenced anticarcinogenic activity, since there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the frequencies of tumors identified with the presence of said substance, when compared to the frequency of tumors in the isolated positive control. Conclusion : Therefore, it is possible to infer that, in the present experimental conditions, Ritalin® presented a modulating effect on DXR-induced damage, reducing the frequency of tumors at all concentrations tested in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.