Antigenotoxicity and antimutagenicity of lycopene in HepG2 cell line evaluated by the comet assay and micronucleus test

• Published in: Toxicology in vitro Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 510 - 514
• Main Authors: Scolastici, C., Alves de Lima, R.O., Barbisan, L.F., Ferreira, A.L.A., Ribeiro, D.A., Salvadori, D.M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Antigenotoxicity; Antimutagenic Agents - pharmacology; Antimutagenicity; Carotenoids - pharmacology; Cell Line; Chromosome Aberrations - drug effects; Comet Assay; Cytokinesis; Diethylnitrosamine - toxicity; DNA - biosynthesis; DNA - genetics; DNA damage; DNA Damage - drug effects; HepG2 cells; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - toxicity; Lycopene; Lycopersicon esculentum; Micronucleus Tests; Mutagens - toxicity; Oxidants - toxicity; HepG2 cells; Antigenotoxicity; Antimutagenicity; DNA damage; Lycopene
• ISSN: 0887-2333; 1879-3177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2007.11.002

Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that high consumption of tomatoes effectively reduces the risk of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases such as cancer. Tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene, a potent singlet oxygen-quenching carotenoid. In addition to its antioxidant properties, lycopene shows an array of biological effects including antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. In the present study, the chemopreventive action of lycopene was examined on DNA damage and clastogenic or aneugenic effects of H 2O 2 and n-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) in the metabolically competent human hepatoma cell line (HepG2 cells). Lycopene at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 μM, was tested under three protocols: before, simultaneously, and after treatment with the mutagen, using the comet and micronucleus assays. Lycopene significantly reduced the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of H 2O 2 in all of the conditions tested. For DEN, significant reductions of primary DNA damage (comet assay) were detected when the carotenoid (all of the doses) was added in the cell culture medium before or simultaneously with the mutagen. In the micronucleus test, the protective effect of lycopene was observed only when added prior to DEN treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that lycopene is a suitable agent for preventing chemically-induced DNA and chromosome damage.