Evaluation of the genotoxic and antioxidant effects of two novel feed additives (ethoxyquin complexes with flavonoids) by the comet assay and micronucleus test

• Published in: Food additives and contaminants Vol. 24; no. 6; pp. 553 - 560
• Main Authors: Blaszczyk, A, Skolimowsk, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethoxyquin; Ethoxyquin - toxicity; feed additives; Feed and pet food industries; feeds; Female; flavonoids; Flavonoids - toxicity; Food industries; free radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; genotoxicity; human lymphocytes; Humans; hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; Hygiene and safety; lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - drug effects; micronucleus test; Micronucleus Tests; natural additives; plant pigments; preservatives; quercetin; Quercetin - toxicity; rutin; Rutin - toxicity; Human; Evaluation; hydrogen peroxide; Antioxidant; Flavonoid; Polyphenol; Additive; comet assay; human lymphocytes; micronucleus test; Peroxides; flavonoids; Lymphocyte; Feed; Ethoxyquin
• ISSN: 0265-203X; 1464-5122
• DOI: 10.1080/02652030601101128

The complexes of antioxidant ethoxyquin (1,2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline; EQ) with rutin or quercetin (EQ-R and EQ-Q, respectively) were studied in human lymphocytes for genotoxic and antioxidant activities with the use of the comet assay and micronucleus test. The study was undertaken to search for new potential antioxidants, and was motivated by reports of unfavourable side-effects observed in animals fed with feeds containing EQ, which is allowed up to 150 mg kg(-1) (0.015%) in complete animal feed. It was shown that EQ-R induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes when used at all the concentrations studied (1-25 μM), while after EQ-Q treatment, the genotoxic effect was observed mainly after higher doses (10 and 25 μM). An increase in the number of micronuclei was observed only for EQ-Q after a dose of 50 μM. The studied compounds decreased the degree of DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (10 μM) in the comet assay. The results obtained in both tests showed that the antioxidant activity of EQ-Q was comparable with that of EQ, so further detailed studies are necessary to estimate its possible usefulness as a feed preservative.