Antigenotoxic Effects of Piquiá (Caryocar villosum) in Multiple Rat Organs

Abstract

This study investigated the in vivo genotoxicity of piquiá pulp (Caryocar villosum) and its potential antigenotoxicity on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced DNA damage by comet assay and micronucleus test. In addition, the phytochemicals present in piquiá pulp were determined. Piquiá fruit pulp (75, 150 or 300 mg/kg b.w.) was administered by gavage to Wistar rats for 14 days, and the animals received an injection of saline or DXR (15 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) 24 h before they were euthanized. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carotenoids; phenolic compounds, including flavonoids; tannins and α-tocopherol in piquiá pulp. No statistically significant differences were observed in the evaluated parameters, demonstrating the absence of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of piquiá pulp at all tested doses. In liver, kidney, cardiac and bone marrow cells, piquiá significantly reduced the DNA damage induced by DXR. Our results showed that the lowest piquiá dose caused the largest decrease in DNA damage and the highest dose caused the smallest decrease, demonstrating an inverse dose-response of piquiá pulp. Furthermore, we observed a difference in the potential antigenotoxic effects in several tissues. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that piquiá pulp was not genotoxic and inhibited the genotoxicity induced by DXR, but some of the protective effects that were observed depended on the doses and experimental conditions. Therefore, further investigations are needed to clarify how piquiá pulp positively affects human health.

Applicability of a Voltammetric Assay Based on the Electroreduction of Oxygen to Evaluate the Antioxidant Capacity of Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) Pulp

“…Gallic acid was described as the predominant compound among the phenolic compounds evaluated by Machado et al 34 in the aqueous extract of pequi pulp (from the region of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil). Almeida et al 35 identified gallic acid, by using HPLC-DAD-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to mass spectrometry), as the major phenolic compound observed in the lyophilized pequi pulp, corresponding to 31% of the total phenolics.…”

Toxicity of synthetic flavorings, nature identical and artificial, to hematopoietic tissue cells of rodents

“…According to Almeida et al (2012), the occurrence of micronuclei, although it is not a carcinogenicity measurement, is often associated with the appearance of cancer, in view of the correlation between the increased frequency of micronucleated cells and detecting cancer in mammals. Table 1.…”

“…Cytotoxic and mutagenic activity of genotoxic agents almost always cause significant adverse effects, such as the development of tumors, after long exposure in the body (Almeida et al, 2012;Rothfuss et al, 2011). In this way, it becomes necessary quick, practical and efficient tests to early detect the toxic potential of these agents.…”

“…In this way, it becomes necessary quick, practical and efficient tests to early detect the toxic potential of these agents. The micronucleus test in bone marrow of rodents is extensively used and internationally accepted by regulatory agencies as an essential in vivo genotoxicity assay in the evaluation of mutagenicity of different xenobiotics, representing an important biomarker for the detection of compounds with carcinogenic potential (Almeida et al, 2012;Aissa et al, 2012). This evaluation system also allows for inferring the cytotoxicity of the test substance by reducing the production and maturation of erythropoietic cells (Queiroz et al, 2013).…”

Bioactive compounds and functional potential of pequi (<em>Caryocar</em> spp.), a native Brazilian fruit: a review

“…With respect to the C. brasiliense almond, Lima et al (2007) showed a lower total carotenoid content (Lima et al, 2007); c (Almeida et al, 2012;; d (Almeida et al, 2012); e (Machado et al, 2013); f (Barreto et al, 2009); g (Torres et al, 2016b); h (Marx et al, 1997); * values found for almond oil; n.a. : not available; wb: wet basis; db: dry basis.…”