title: The micronucleus assay in mammalian cells in vitro to assess health benefits of various phytochemicals.
abstract: We evaluated the protective effects of Gentiana lutea extracts (GLEx) and 6-Gingerol (6-G) on clastogenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 7,12-dimethylbenz(α) anthracene (DMBA) in vitro on HepG2 cells using the frequencies of induced micronuclei (MN) as the end point. Pre-, post- and simultaneous treatments with GLEx or 6-G and the carcinogens were carried out. Both GLEx post- and simultaneous treatments reduced the frequencies of MN induced by MNNG and DMBA. Probably this effect is due to an increase of cytostasis and a physico-chemical interaction between GLEx and DMBA under simultaneous treatment. Pre- and simultaneous treatments with 6-G significantly reduced the yield of MNNG-induced micronuclei without affecting % of cytostasis. Simultaneous treatment with 6-G plus DMBA resulted in reduction in the frequency of MN and an increase in cytotoxicity compared to sample treated alone with DMBA, whereas a post-treatment, caused a significant decrease in the yield of MN compared with DMBA alone without any cytotoxic effect. These results are compared with our earlier data obtained in the same system with other phytochemicals. It is concluded that for a critical evaluation of the protective effects of phytochemicals, both the influence on the induced MN and induced cytostasis have to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: meschini@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meschini
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berni
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Adayapalam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palitti
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000633:toxicity; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030012:Gentiana / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / Q000633:toxicity; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D002396:Catechols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D009153:Mutagens; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008769:Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; C007845:gingerol
keywords: 6-Gingerol; DMBA; Gentiana lutea extract; HepG2; MNNG; Micronuclei