Nutrigenomics is the study of the gene-nutrient interaction and it indicates that some nutrients, called bioactive compounds, can mold the genetic expression or change the nucleotide chain. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found in plants that are regularly consumed in functional foods and help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. This article objected to review studies about the interaction of diet with polyphenols and Mediterranean diet in the expression of human genes related to T2DM. Resveratrol acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and increases mitochondrial function. Regular consumption of quercetin resulted in improvement of hypertension and suppression of diabetes-induced vasoconstriction. Genistein also showed positive results in T2DM, such as increased cell mass and improved glucose tolerance and insulin levels. Catechins showed efficiency in inducing genes in triacylglycerol biosynthesis, inhibition of fatty acids and cholesterol, and resulting in their participation in mitigating complications of diabetes. Lastly, curcumin was demonstrated to be a protector of the pancreatic islets against streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress. Growing evidence suggest that bioactive compounds such as polyphenols have an important role in T2DM and the prevention and treatment of its complication, as they cause activation or inhibition of related genes.

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The sublethal effects of water-soluble fraction of gasoline (WSFG, 1.5 % v/v) were evaluated in the freshwater fish, Astynax altiparanae, after acute exposure (96 h) under a semi-static system. In addition, the recovery process was assessed in the fish following contaminant depuration. Recovery treatments were carried out with gradual depuration (GD), consisting of 7 days in the WSFG, followed by 8 days in clean water; and treatments with total depuration in clean water for 15 (DEP 15) and 30 days (DEP 30). The effects were evaluated through the piscine micronucleus test and by differential counting of organic defense cells. Acute exposure increased the frequency of neutrophils. In the GD treatment, the thrombocyte count and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) increased. In the DEP 15 treatment, there was a reduction of ENA; and following 30 days of depuration (i.e., DEP 30), the number of lymphocytes increased and the thrombocyte count remained high. These results indicate a long-term response to a condition of stress from WSFG.

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Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are widely used and may impact the environment. Thus, this study used a high concentration of TiO 2 NP (1000 mg/L) to verify the defense mechanisms triggered by a plant system -an indicator of toxicity. Furthermore, this study aimed at completely characterizing TiO 2 NP suspensions to elucidate their toxic behavior. TiO 2 NPs were taken up by meristematic cells of Allium cepa, leading to slight inhibition of seed germination and root growth. However, severe cellular and DNA damages were observed in a concentration-dependent manner (10, 100, and 1000 mg/L). For this reason, we used the highest tested concentration (1000 mg/L) to verify if the plant cells developed defense mechanisms against the TiO 2 NPs and evaluated other evidences of TiO 2 NP genotoxicity. Nucleolar alterations and plant defense responses (i.e., increased lytic vacuoles, oil bodies and NP phase change) were observed in meristematic cells exposed to TiO 2 NP at 1000 mg/L. In summary, TiO 2 NPs can damage the genetic material of plants; however, plants displayed defense mechanisms against the deleterious effects of these NPs. In addition, A. cepa was found to be a suitable test system to evaluate the cyto-and genotoxicity of NPs.

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