title: Vitamin C and quercetin modulate DNA-damaging effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG).
abstract: The effects of natural compounds, vitamin C and quercetin, present in fruits and vegetables, on the DNA damaging activity of a food carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were examined using the comet assay. Vitamin C, at a concentration of 50 microM, inhibited MNNG-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Quercetin, up to a concentration of 10 microM, increased the extent of DNA damage, but at concentrations above 10 microM decreased damage below control values. Furthermore, quercetin had a strong antioxidant activity against oxidative damage evoked by H2O2 at 10 microM. The results obtained suggest that vitamin C and quercetin may have anti- or pro-oxidative properties depending on the state of the cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Błasiak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trzeciak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasiorowska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drzewoski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Małecka-Panas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D003300:Copper; D011794:Quercetin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D001205:Ascorbic Acid