Cardanol is an effective antioxidant and is a compound with antimutagenic and
antitumoral activity. Here, we evaluated the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of
saturated side chain cardanol and its effects in combination with cyclophosphamide in
preventing DNA damage, apoptosis, and immunomodulation. Swiss mice were treated with
cardanol (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (100
mg/kg). The results showed that cardanol is an effective chemopreventive compound,
with damage reduction percentages that ranged from 18.9 to 31.76% in the comet assay
and from 45 to 97% in the micronucleus assay. Moreover, cardanol has the ability to
reduce the frequency of apoptosis induced by cyclophosphamide. The compound did not
show immunomodulatory activity. A final interpretation of the data showed that,
despite its chemoprotective capacity, cardanol has a tendency to induce DNA damage.
Hence, caution is needed if this compound is used as a chemopreventive agent. Also,
this compound is likely not suitable as an adjuvant in chemotherapy treatments that
use cyclophosphamide.
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