title: Modulation by flavonoids of DNA damage induced by estrogen-like compounds.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by a wide variety of exogenous chemicals and metabolic processes and cause a broad spectrum of damage to biological systems. As a consequence, ROS react with DNA, among many other biological targets, disrupting its structure and functionality. Estrogen-like compounds mediate DNA damage by ROS generation, implying that their effects can be modulated by antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and vitamin C. We examined DNA damage in human lymphocytes and sperm after treatment with four estrogen-like compounds (beta-estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, daidzein, and genistein) and its modulation by flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol) using the Comet assay. The results indicated that quercetin and kaempferol reduced the DNA damage produced in sperm and lymphocytes by the four estrogenic compounds. The flavonoids also reduced the DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide, which was used as a positive control. Our results demonstrate that the antioxidant properties of flavonoids can protect the integrity of human sperm and lymphocyte DNA from ROS induced by estrogenic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cemeli
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D019833:Genistein / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000009:adverse effects; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002273:Carcinogens; D007529:Isoflavones; D044949:Kaempferols; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004958:Estradiol; C004742:daidzein; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; C006552:kaempferol; D011794:Quercetin; D019833:Genistein