Antioxidants in Fruits and Vegetables: a Study of Cellular Availability and Direct Effects on Human DNA

The effects of several types of whole fruits and vegetables on human lymphocytic DNA were investigated by using two versions of the comet assay. The total antioxidative capacity, as the FRAP value, and ascorbic acid (AA) content were also measured to explore the relationship between the effect and antioxidant content.     

Effect of β-carotene on catechol-induced genotoxicity in vitro: Evidence of both enhanced and reduced DNA damage

Abstract

Intake of antioxidants from the diet has been recognized to have beneficial health effects, but the potential benefit of taking antioxidants such as β-carotene as supplements is controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of a physiologically relevant concentration (2 μM) of β-carotene on the DNA damaging effects of catechol in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells. Two different exposure protocols were used: simultaneous exposure to β-carotene and catechol for 3 h; and exposure to catechol for 3 h after 18 h pre-treatment with the vitamin. DNA damage was evaluated using the comet assay (employing one procedure for general damage, and another procedure, which also included oxidative DNA damage). Independent of exposure protocol and procedure for comet assay, β-carotene did not increase the basal level of DNA damage. However, at the highest concentration of catechol (1 mM), β-carotene was found to clearly increase the level of catechol-induced DNA damage, especially in the pre-treated cells. Interestingly, an opposite effect was observed at lower concentrations of catechol, but the β-carotene related reduction of catechol-induced genotoxicity was significant (P < 0.05) only for the procedure including oxidative damage induced by 0.5 mM catechol. Taken together our results indicate that β- carotene can both reduce and enhance the DNA damaging effects of a genotoxic agent such as catechol. This indicates that it is the level of catechol-induced DNA damage that seems to determine whether β-carotene should be regarded as a beneficial or detrimental agent when it comes to its use as a dietary supplement.     

Reassessment of antioxidant activity of arbutin: Multifaceted evaluation using five antioxidant assay systems

Abstract

Arbutin, a practically used skin-lightening agent, has been reported to possess a weak antioxidant activity compared to that of its precursor, hydroquinone. However, its antioxidant activity has not been systematically evaluated. Hence, this study reassessed its activity using five assay systems. Assays were first performed using model radicals, DPPH radical and ABTS^?+. Arbutin showed weak DPPH radical-scavenging activity compared to that of hydroquinone, but showed strong ABTS^?+-scavenging activity. Its activity by ORAC assay was then evaluated using a physiologically relevant peroxyl radical. Arbutin exerted weak but long-lasting radical-scavenging activity and showed totally the same antioxidant activity as that of hydroquinone. Finally, it was shown that, in two cell-based antioxidant assays using erythrocytes and skin fibroblasts, arbutin exerted strong antioxidant activity comparable or even superior to that of hydroquinone. These findings indicate that the antioxidant activity of arbutin may have been under-estimated and suggest that it acts as a potent antioxidant in the skin.     

七种紫珠属植物水提物中总黄酮、总酚酸及其抗氧化活性的测定

采用紫外-可见分光光分度法测定裸花紫珠等7种紫珠属植物水提液中总黄酮、总酚酸的含量及清除自由基的能力.结果表明:7种植物中的总黄酮、总酚酸含量差异很大,均以红紫珠含量最高,其黄酮、总酚酸含量分别为3.75％和2.93％;清除自由基能力与总黄酮、总酚酸含量呈正相关性,亦以红紫珠清除自由基能力最强.研究结果将为紫珠属植物资源的开发与利用提供理论基础.     

Sewage sludge does not induce genotoxicity and carcinogenesis

Through a series of experiments, the genotoxic/mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of sewage sludge was assessed. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Group 1 - negative control; Group 2 - liver carcinogenesis initiated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN; 200 mg/kg i.p.); Group 3 and G4-liver carcinogenesis initiated by DEN and fed 10,000 ppm or 50,000 ppm of sewage sludge. The animals were submitted to a 70% partial hepatectomy at the 3^rd week. Livers were processed for routine histological analysis and immunohistochemistry, in order to detect glutathione S-transferase positive altered hepatocyte foci (GST-P⁺ AHF). Peripheral blood samples for the comet assay were obtained from the periorbital plexus immediately prior to sacrificing. Polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) were analyzed in femoral bone-marrow smears, and the frequencies of those micronucleated (MNPCEs) registered. There was no sewage-sludge-induced increase in frequency of either DNA damage in peripheral blood leucocytes, or MNPCEs in the femoral bone marrow. Also, there was no increase in the levels of DNA damage, in the frequency of MNPCEs, and in the development of GST-P AHF when compared with the respective control group.     

Ames实验及彗星实验检测辅酶NADH的抗突变作用

采用Ames实验及单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE,彗星实验）,对还原型辅酶NADH进行抗突变研究。NADH中、高剂量组在加或不加S9的情况下,均能不同程度地抑制由致突变物引起的TA98、TA100回变菌落数的增加,降低SCGE拖尾细胞率。表明还原型辅酶NADH具有一定的抗突变作用。     

New Application of the Comet Assay: Chromosome�CComet Assay

The comet assay is a well-established, simple, versatile, visual, rapid, and sensitive tool used extensively to assess DNA damage and DNA repair quantitatively and qualitatively in single cells. The comet assay is most frequently used to analyze white blood cells or lymphocytes in human biomonitoring studies, although other cell types have been examined, including buccal, nasal, epithelial, and placental cells and even spermatozoa. This study was conducted to design a protocol that can be used to generate comets in subnuclear units, such as chromosomes. The new technique is based on the chromosome isolation protocols currently used for whole chromosome mounting in electron microscopy, coupled to the alkaline variant of the comet assay, to detect DNA damage. The results show that migrant DNA fragments can be visualized in whole nuclei and isolated chromosomes and that they exhibit patterns of DNA migration that depend on the level of DNA damage produced. This protocol has great potential for the highly reproducible study of DNA damage and repair in specific chromosomal domains.     

Measuring oxidative damage to DNA; HPLC and the comet assay compared

Depending on the analytical method employed estimates of background levels of base oxidation in human DNA vary over orders of magnitude. It is now realised that oxidation of guanine in vitro can result in serious overestimation of the nucleoside by HPLC (with electrochemical detection). We have modified procedures of isolation, hydrolysis and storage of DNA with the aim of eliminating this artefact. Vacuum- or freeze-drying, and dialysis, tend to encourage oxidation. We compare results obtained with HPLC and with the comet assay, which employs lesion-specific enzymes to introduce breaks in DNA at sites of oxidative damage. Although estimates of background levels of DNA oxidation using the comet assay are several-fold lower than the estimates by HPLC, both approaches have been used successfully to detect differences between human subjects or population groups that seem to relate to human disease and nutritional factors.     

Some Effectors on the Biosynthesis of cis-4-Hydroxy-d-proline in Viridogrisein

A system to improve the yield of neoviridogrisein II, in which the cis-4-hydroxy-d-proline is replaced with d-proline, was devised by selective inhibition of the hydroxylation of l-proline with zinc ion in a chemically defined medium. Zinc ion opposed the ferrous ion in the hydroxylation system of Streptomyces griseoviridus P8648.     

翅果油树叶片中总生物碱抗氧化活性研究

采用80%乙醇浸提翅果油树叶片中总生物碱,硅胶柱层析纯化,并用碘量法测定翅果油树叶片中总生物碱对猪油抗氧化性能的影响,用番红花红O-Mn2 -H2O2光度法测定其对羟基自由基的清除效果,用NBT光还原法测定其对超氧阴离子的清除效果.结果表明:翅果油树叶片总生物碱可有效延缓猪油的脂质过氧化反应,对猪油氧化的抑制效果显著高于同浓度的维生素C;其具有较强的清除羟基自由基和超氧阴离子的能力,EC50值分别为0.236g/L和0.101g/L,当浓度为1g/L时,其对羟基自由基和超氧阴离子的清除率可达96.04%和90.05%,显著高于同浓度的维生素C.     

滁菊总黄酮抗氧化作用研究

通过乙醇浸提,AB-8大孔树脂纯化制备滁菊总黄酮,紫外分光光度法测定总黄酮含量.取一定量的滁菊总黄酮配制成溶液,采用烘箱储藏法测定滁菊总黄酮的体外抗油脂氧化作用,采用Decker法等测定滁菊总黄酮对Fe2+的螯合能力,对亚硝酸盐、DPPH自由基的清除能力.结果表明:经醇提、AB-8大孔树脂纯化,紫外分光光度计检测滁菊中总黄酮含量为2.62%,滁菊总黄酮对油脂过氧化具有明显的抑制作用,对Fe2+具有较强强的螯合能力,对亚硝酸盐、DPPH自由基具有较好的清除能力,即滁菊总黄酮具有良好的抗氧化作用.     

Evaluation of gene polymorphisms in exercise-induced oxidative stress and damage

Abstract

Many potentially significant genetic variants related to oxidative stress have been identified and performance in endurance sports is a multi-factorial phenotype. Thus, it was decided to investigate the influences of the haptoglobin (Hp), MnSOD (Val9Ala), CAT (21A/T), GPX1 (Pro198Leu), ACE, glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genes' polymorphisms on the oxidative stress and damage suffered by human athletes (runners). Blood samples taken immediately after a race were submitted to genotyping, comet and TBARS assays, biochemical analyses of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). MnSOD significantly influenced results of CK and a possible association between Hp1F-1S and Hp1S-2 genotypes with a superior TBARS values was found. Higher or lower TBARS and CK values or DNA damage also depended on the interaction between Hp and ACE or GST genotypes, indicating that MnSOD and Hp polymorphisms can be determining factors in performance, at least for runners.     

Failure of zinc to inhibit hyperthermia-induced apoptosis predicts differential nuclease activity detection by comet assay

Apoptotic DNA cleavage generally proceeds in two stages, first producing large 50–300kb fragments, and later oligonucleosomal pieces which create the characteristic DNA ladder. We show that zinc treatment of hyperthermia-induced apoptotic cultures is sufficient to prevent ladder formation, but not apoptosis (all features of which were inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide). DNA damage measured in single cells using the comet (single cell gel) assay is detectable in zinc treated cultures using both alkaline and non-denaturing conditions. Both assays predict the same fraction of cells undergoing apoptosis, and damage is detectable earlier than shown by DNA ladder appearance. We conclude that the comet assay is detecting damage consistent with the initial 50–300kb fragments. Additionally, various cell lines when heattreated follow different temporal pathways or display differential apoptotic phenotypes. Also, we were unable to demonstrate an apoptotic window for cells refractory to hyperthermia by increasing the heat load.     

Inhibition of protein synthesis sensitizes thermotolerant cells to heat shock induced apoptosis

Hyperthermia is a potent inducer of apoptosis in many cell lines. A brief exposure to mildly elevated temperatures elicits a transient state of augmented resistance to subsequent thermal stress. Here we show that a hyperthermic treatment of 43°C for 1 h is sufficient to induce apoptosis in the cell line HL-60. This observation is based on morphologic evaluation and on comet assay results (an extremely sensitive method of detecting and quantifying apoptotic DNA fragmentation in individual cells). The thermotolerance phenomenon was also verified in the same manner by giving the cells a brief 30 min sub-lethal heat conditioning treatment at 43°C followed by a 6 h incubation time prior to the administration of a lethal heat load (43°C for 1 h). We observed a dramatic decrease in resultant apoptoses in the thermotolerized cells in comparison to unconditioned cells. We assessed the necessity of de novo protein synthesis in the protective phenomenon. When the conditioned cells were given a cycloheximide treatment prior to heat conditioning we saw a sensitization of the conditioned cells to secondary thermal injury. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

应用改良彗星试验检测杀虫剂对小鼠细胞DNA的损伤

目的：检测杀虫剂（杀灭菊酯乳油）是否对小鼠外周血淋巴细胞DNA有损伤。方法：应用改良彗星试验（单细胞凝胶电泳）分别检测三个剂量组和对照组小鼠外周血淋巴细胞。结果：剂量组的彗星出现率与阴性对照组存在显著差异（P＜0．05）,而与阳性对照组差异不显著（P＞0．05）。结论：该杀虫剂对小鼠外周血淋巴细胞DNA有一定程度的损伤。