title: Extract from Armoracia rusticana and its flavonoid components protect human lymphocytes against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.
abstract: DNA damage prevention is an important mechanism involved in cancer prevention by dietary compounds. Armoracia rusticana is cultivated mainly for its roots that are used in the human diet as a pungent spice. The roots represent rich sources of biologically active phytocompounds, which are beneficial for humans. In this study we investigated the modulation of H₂O₂ genotoxicity using the A. rusticana root aqueous extract (AE) and two flavonoids (kaempferol or quercetin). Human lymphocytes pre-treated with AE, kaempferol and quercetin were challenged with H₂O₂ and the DNA damage was assessed by the comet assay. At first we assessed a non-genotoxic concentration of AE and flavonoids, respectively. In lymphocytes challenged with H₂O₂ we proved that the 0.0025 mg·mL⁻¹ concentration of AE protected human DNA. It significantly reduced H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage (from 78% to 35.75%). Similarly, a non-genotoxic concentration of kaempferol (5 μg·mL⁻¹) significantly diminished oxidative DNA damage (from 83.3% to 19.4%), and the same concentration of quercetin also reduced the genotoxic effect of H₂O₂ (from 83.3% to 16.2%). We conclude that AE, kaempferol and quercetin probably act as antimutagens. The molecular mechanisms underlying their antimutagenic activity might be explained by their antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 15, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Michala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gafrikova
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 15, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eliska
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galova
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 15, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sevcovicova
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 15, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Petronela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Imreova
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Odbojárov 10, Bratislava 832 32, Slovakia. mucaji@fpharm.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mucaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina, Bratislava 842 15, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miadokova
mesh_terms: D031215:Armoracia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide