Journal of Environmental Biology

Inhibitory effect of antioxidants on the  benz[a]anthracene-induced

oxidative DNA damage in lymphocyte

 

Author Details

 

Yoo-Na Seo

Department of Medical Biotechnology, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, Chungnam - 336 600, Korea

 

Mi-Young Lee

(Corresponding author)

Department of Medical Biotechnology, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, Chungnam - 336 600,

Republic of Korea

e-mail: miyoung@sch.ac.kr

 

 

Publication Data

Paper received:

21 July 2009

 

Revised received:

24 April 2010

 

Accepted:

11 May 2010

 

Abstract

Benz[a]anthracene is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant formed during the incomplete combustion of organic material. Some of the metabolites of benz[a]anthracene are known to be toxic and carcinogenic. In this investigation, benz[a]anthracene-induced oxidative damage to lymphocyte DNA was evaluated with the Comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis). The level of oxidative DNA damage caused by benz[a]anthracene increased in a dose-dependent manner  (24, 49) and oxidative DNA damage was significantly inhibited by 5 and 10 mg ml^-1 ascorbate, 5 mg ml^-1 polyphenols, as well as 5 and 10 mg ml^-1 curcumin. Moreover, traditional Korean medicinal herbs such as Acanthopanax and ginseng significantly reduced DNA damage. The results demonstrate that antioxidant supplementation to lymphocytes inhibits oxidative DNA damage in vitro, supporting an inhibitory effect against oxidative DNA damage, probably due to reduction of reactive oxygen species production induced by benz[a]anthracene.

 

Key words

Benz[a]anthracene, Comet assay, Oxidative DNA damage, Antioxidant

 

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