Phytochemical characterization and cytogenotoxic activity of leaves of <i>Centratherum punctatum</i> Cass

<i>Centratherum punctatum</i> (Asteraceae), known as Brazilian bachelor's button, is used in folk medicine to treat liver problems, intestinal discomfort, and ulcers. The study aims to characterize the ethanolic extract (EE) of <i>C. punctatum</i> leaves, evaluate its antioxidant activity, and assess its cytogenotoxic and chemoprotective effects in <i>Allium cepa</i> and <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> cells. The EE was characterized by qualitative phytochemical prospecting, TLC, ESI-IT/MSⁿ, HPLC-PDA, and isolation by column chromatography. Antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and total phenol content (TPC) were quantified. Cytogenotoxicity and the protective effect of EE were evaluated in the <i>A. cepa</i> and the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) bioassays at concentrations of 3.9; 15.6; 62.5 and 250 µg/mL. The phytochemical prospecting of EE revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavanones, alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids. ESI-IT/MSⁿ identified 15 compounds, HPLC-PDA also confirmed the same classes of metabolites, and the isolate was the triterpene acetyl aleuritolic acid. The result of DPPH, ABTS, and TPC was 142.10 ± 2.15 µg/mL; 623.94 ± 38.38 mM Trolox/g, and 77.78 ± 1.19 mg EAG/g, respectively. In <i>A. cepa</i> and SMART, none of the EE concentrations were cytogenotoxic. EE showed a protective effect (pre, simultaneous, and post-treatments) against methyl methanesulfonate damage at all concentrations in <i>A. cepa</i> and antigenotoxic activity (simultaneous) in SMART at 15.6; 62.5, and 250 µg/mL against doxorubicin damage. The findings of the present study demonstrate that <i>C. punctatum</i> is a promising source of compounds with antioxidant and chemoprotective properties.