Evaluation of basil extract ( Ocimum basilicum L. ) on oxidative, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects in human leukocytes cell cultures exposed to challenging agents

ABSTRACT Ocimum is one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family. Several studies about basil and its popular use reveal many characteristics of the herb, including its use as antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, and cardiovascular agents, among others. In this paper, we evaluated genotoxic, oxidative, and anti-inflammatory parameters from the extract of Ocimum basilicum in different concentrations, using human leukocytes cultures exposed to challenging agents. Our results confirm that the O. basilicum extract acts as an antioxidant and effectively reverts or subjugates the effects of high oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide. These actions are attributed to its composition, which is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids as well as compounds such as rosmarinic acid, all of which have well-known antioxidant activity. We also show that our basil extract presents anti-inflammatory properties, the mechanism of which is a composed interaction between the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Although pharmacodynamics studies are necessary to evaluate the activities in vivo, our results demonstrated that basil could act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and a possible alternative for medicinal treatment.

Review of Genotoxic Effects for Pesticides Exposure among Rural Community in a Farming Village.

Background: Past studies have suggested that early exposure of farm children to chronic pesticides were likely to establish genotoxic risk that might lead to cancerous cell development later during their adulthood (if not repaired properly). Objective: This review aims to fill the knowledge gap concerning the genotoxic effect on the rural community in a farming village from exposure to a mixture of pesticides. Results: This review paper shows substantial evidence that farmers were vulnerable to pesticide exposure, however, limited evidence shows that children are at an increased or equivalent risk in terms of the genotoxic effect when considering their exposure to the contaminated environment. Conclusion: This paper summarizes the existing state of knowledge concerning the genotoxic effects from pesticide exposure among farmers and their children, and highlights the genotoxic effect of pesticides as a health risk for future studies.

Genotoxic effects of panoramic radiation by assessing the frequency of micronuclei formation in exfoliated buccal epithelium.

Background: Panoramic radiography is one of the most commonly used radiographic methods to complement clinical examination. Ionizing radiation is a well-known mutagen and carcinogen in the human population. So this study was undertaken to evaluate the possible genotoxic effects of panoramic radiation by assessing the frequency of micronuclei formation in the exfoliated buccal epithelium. Methods: 50 patients of either sex in the age range of 15 to 75 years with apparently normal oral mucosa with no adverse habits and without any oral lesions were included in the present study after their consent. Buccal epithelial cells were obtained from the buccal mucosa by scraping with the toothbrush immediately before and after 10 ± 2 days of exposure to panoramic radiography. Cytological preparations were stained and observed under microscope. Student’s paired‘t’ test was used for the comparison between mean frequency of micronuclei in buccal epithelial cells in patients before and after panoramic radiography. Results: Significant increase (P <0.0001) in the frequency of cells with micronuclei and total number of micronuclei after panoramic radiography was detected. Conclusion: The X-radiation emitted during panoramic radiography does induce some genotoxic changes in the form of increased frequency of micronuclei in target buccal epithelial cells.

Genotoxicidad en leucocitos por la quimioprofilaxis de sangre con Violeta de Genciana y su prevención con antioxidantes / Genotoxicity in leukocytes by blood chemoprophylaxis with Gentian Violet and its prevention with antioxidants / Genotoxicidade em leucócitos pela quimioprofilaxia de sangue com Violeta Genciana e sua prevenção com antioxidantes

El Violeta de Genciana (GV) se usa como aditivo en la sangre para eliminar el Trypanosoma cruzi en la quimioprofilaxis de la infección por enfermedad de Chagas vía transfusión sanguínea, cuando no es posible un control previo de laboratorio o bajo situaciones de emergencia. En estos estudios se encontraron efectos genotóxicos del GV con el ensayo Cometa, cuando se lo agregó a la sangre bajo las condiciones empleadas para esterilizarla para transfusión. El efecto genotóxico fue aún más intenso si la sangre se mantenía con GV por 48 horas. Los resultados obtenidos con el ensayo Cometa sugieren la formación de bases hidroxiladas de ADN como resultado de un ataque de especies reactivas de oxígeno y apoyan la genotoxicidad del GV y su potencial carcinogénico ya informado previamente. Los efectos genotóxicos observados en el ensayo Cometa fueron parcialmente prevenidos por administración de antioxidantes que ya tienen uso clínico seguro, como á-tocoferol, ácido lipoico o N-acetilcisteína. El ácido lipoico fue capaz también de reaccionar in vitro con GV. Los resultados sugieren un uso potencial de estos antioxidantes para prevenir los efectos secundarios no deseados del GV para el individuo receptor de la sangre.

Gentian violet (GV) is being used as blood additive to eliminate Trypanosoma cruzi in the chemoprophylaxis of Chagas disease infection via blood transfusion when prior laboratory control is not possible or under emergency circumstances in endemic areas. In these studies genotoxic effects of GV were found employing the Comet assay when GV was added to rat blood under the cisconditions employed to sterilize it for transfusion. The genotoxic effect was even more intense if blood was kept with GV for 48 hours. The positive results obtained in the Comet assay suggest the formation of DNA hydroxylated bases as result of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack and further confirm GV genotoxicity and its potential carcinogenic effects previously reported. Genotoxicity effects observed in the Comet assay were partially but significantly prevented by prior administration of antioxidants having safe clinical use such as á-tocopherol; lipoic acid or N-acetylcysteine. Lipoic acid was also able to chemically react in vitro with GV (eg. the one remaining in the transfusion mixture after it had enough time to eliminate the parasite from blood). Results would suggest the potential use of these antioxidants to prevent unwanted side effects of GV for the blood recipient.

O Violeta de Genciana (GV) é utilizado como aditivo no sangue para remover o Trypanosoma cruzi da sangue em quimioprofilaxia da infecção por doença de Chagas através de transfusão de sangue, quando não é possível controle prévio de laboratório ou em situações de emergência. Nestes estudos encontraram-se efeitos genotóxicos do GV utilizando o ensaio Cometa, quando o GV foi adicionado ao sangue sob as condições utilizadas para a esterilização para transfusão. O efeito genotóxico foi ainda mais intenso se o sangue era mantido durante 48 horas com GV. Os resultados obtidos com o ensaio Cometa sugerem a formação de bases de DNA hidroxiladas, como resultado de um ataque de espécies reativas de oxigênio e apoiam a genotoxicidade do GV e seu potencial carcinogênico já informado anteriormente. Efeitos genotóxicos observados no ensaio do Cometa foram parcialmente prevenidos por administração de antioxidantes que já têm uso clínico seguro, como á-tocoferol, o ácido lipoico ou N-acetilcisteína. O ácido lipoico também foi capaz de reagir in vitro com GV. Os resultados sugerem um uso potencial destes antioxidantes para prevenir os efeitos colaterais não desejados de GV para o indivíduo receptor do sangue.

Daño al ADN asociado al contenido de arsénico urinario en una población de jóvenes expuesta al arsénico por el agua de bebida / DNA damage associated to urinary arsenic content in a children population exposed to arsenic by drinking water

El arsénico es un contaminante ampliamente distribuido en el mundo. En Argentina se estima que cerca de un millón y medio de personas están expuestas a sus efectos deletéreos por ingesta de agua con altos tenores de este metaloide. El presente trabajotuvo como objetivo establecer si existe correlación entre la exposición a arsénico inorgánico (AsI) a través del consumo de aguas y el nivel de daño al ADN. Muestras de orina y sangre fueron recolectadas de una población de la provincia de Santiago del Estero. Sobre éstas se evaluó el contenido de arsénico urinario (Asu) como marcador de exposición reciente y el daño producidoal ADN mediante el ensayo de electroforesis de células únicas (test del cometa) en sangre como índice de genotoxicidad. De la población total estudiada (n=65), el 41,54% fueron niños. El 57% de la población infantil presentó valores de Asu superiores al valor máximo referencial (hasta 40μgAs/g creatinina) en un rango comprendido entre 41,78 y 3918,10 μgAs/g creatinina. La evaluación genotóxica en sangre reveló que los niños expuestos a elevados niveles de arsénico presentaron un porcentajede células con alto daño al ADN significativamente mayor al compararlo con aquellos con Asu menor al valor de referencia (32,79% ± 3,32 vs 9,77% ± 6,59; p<0,001). A pesar del bajo número de muestras analizadas en este estudio preliminar, existe una buena correlación entre el contenido de arsénico urinario en la población general y el daño al ADN (r=0,6509; p=0,0117). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la población estudiada expuesta a altos niveles de arsénico, representa un grupo de riesgo para el desarrollo de patologías relacionadas con este tóxico.

Arsenic is an environmental pollutantwidely distributed in the world. In Argentine about a million and a half of inhabitants are exposed to its deleterious effect by drinking water with high levels of this metalloid. In this work the correlation between the exposure to inorganic arsenic and thelevel of DNA damage in blood cells was assessed. Urine and blood samples were taken from a population of Santiago del Estero province. Urinary total arsenic (Asu) content (a recent exposure biomarker) and single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) wereperformed. Children represented the 41.54% of the sampled population (n=65) and 57% of them had Asu levels between 41.78 and 3918.10 μgAs/g creatinine (reference value: less than 40μgAs/g creatinine). Comet assay showed that children with high levelof Asu presented a percentage of cells with high DNA damage increased respect to those with Asu below the reference value (32.79% ± 3.32 vs 9.77% ± 6.59, p< 0.001). Despite the small number of samples analyzed in this preliminary study, there is a clear tendency of correlation between total arsenic content in urine and DNA damage (r=0.6509, p=0.0117). The data obtained showed that the children population exposed to high levels of arsenic represent a group of risk for developing pathologies related with this toxic.