Protective Effects of the Flavonoid Chrysin against Methylmercury-Induced Genotoxicity and Alterations of Antioxidant Status,In Vivo

Abstract

The use of phytochemicals has been widely used as inexpensive approach for prevention of diseases related to oxidative damage due to its antioxidant properties. One of dietary flavonoids is chrysin (CR), found mainly in passion fruit, honey, and propolis. Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxic metal whose main toxic mechanism is oxidative damage. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of CR against oxidative damage induced by MeHg in Wistar rats. Animals were treated with MeHg (30 µg/kg/bw) in presence and absence of CR (0.10, 1.0, and 10 mg/kg/bw) by gavage for 45 days. Glutathione (GSH) in blood was quantified spectrophotometrically and for monitoring of DNA damage, comet assay was used in leukocytes and hepatocytes. MeHg led to a significant increase in the formation of comets; when the animals were exposed to the metal in the presence of CR, higher concentrations of CR showed protective effects. Moreover, exposure to MeHg decreased the levels of GSH and GSH levels were restored in the animals that received CR plus MeHg. Taken together the findings of the present work indicate that consumption of flavonoids such as CR may protect humans against the adverse health effects caused by MeHg.

Blood antioxidant nutrients in riparian villagers of the Brazilian Amazon: its associations with wet/dry seasons and modulation by sociodemographic determinants

“…Knowledge about blood micronutrient levels is of great importance in Brazilian Amazon, since many publications have shown that several nutrients modify the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of Hg 2,9,10,26,27 , which is particularly interesting in the context of this current investigation since numerous studies have reported high Hg levels in hair, blood and plasma among Amazonian populations [5][6][7] . Our findings of seasonal blood variation of essential metals (Cu, Se and Zn), carotenoids and vitamin E are probably a result of seasonal variations in food availability.…”

In-vitro DNA and cell damage induced by 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and suppressive effect of selected phytochemicals against CMIT toxicity

“…ROS induces the expression of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the inflammatory response, as well as a variety of proteins linked with oxidative stress-associated reactions. In addition, phytochemicals with antioxidant activity, such as carotenoid (Caramujo et al, 2012) and polyphenols including phenolic acids (Sevgi et al, 2015), flavonoids (Manzolli et al, 2015) and stilbenes (Biais et al, 2017), have been extensively used to reduce toxicity triggered by toxic chemicals. lymphocytes of rats treated with 1, 3, 5 and 10 μg ml of CMIT.…”

Genotoxicity assessment of Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

“…Analyzing the phytochemical profile of S. brasiliensis, Almeida et al (2010) noticed the presence of tannins, quinones, and triterpens, while Santos et al (2014) showed that the ethyl acetate fraction from the bark of S. brasiliensis contains aurones, catechins, chalcones, and saponins (Santos et al, 2014). On one hand, studies demonstrated that some of those compounds have protective and antigenotoxic effect (Rodríguez-García, 2013;Manzolli et al, 2015). On the other hand, compounds such as saponins were noticed to have genotoxic effect on human lymphocytes (Kalachaveedu et al, 2014).…”