Nutraceutical potential of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds and sprouts.

In this study the antioxidant effect of Cannabis sativa L. seeds and sprouts (3 and 5 days of germination) was evaluated. Total polyphenols, flavonoids and flavonols content, when expressed on dry weight basis, were highest in sprouts; ORAC and DPPH (in vitro assays), CAA-RBC (cellular antioxidant activity in red blood cells) and hemolysis test (ex vivo assays) evidenced a good antioxidant activity higher in sprouts than in seeds. Untargeted analysis by high resolution mass spectrometry in negative ion mode allowed the identification of main polyphenols (caffeoyltyramine, cannabisin A, B, C) in seeds and of ω-6 (linoleic acid) in sprouts. Antimutagenic effect of seeds and sprouts extracts evidenced a significant decrease of mutagenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 strain. In conclusion our results show that C. sativa seeds and sprouts exert beneficial effects on yeast and human cells and should be further investigated as a potential functional food.

Antimutagenic and antioxidant activity of a selected lectin-free common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in two cell-based models.

Legumes and particularly beans are a key food of Mediterranean diet representing an important source of proteins, fiber, some minerals and vitamins and bioactive compounds. We evaluated the antioxidant and anti-mutagenic effects of a new fermented powder of a selected lectin-free and phaseolamin-enriched variety of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), named Lady Joy. Lady Joy lysate (Lys LJ) was studied in human erythrocytes and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. The antioxidant and anti-hemolytic properties of Lys LJ, studied in an ex vivo erythrocytes system using the cellular antioxidant assay (CAA-RBC) and the hemolysis test, evidenced a dose-dependent antioxidant activity as well as a significant hemolysis inhibition. Besides, results evidenced that Lys LJ treatment significantly decreased the intracellular ROS concentration and mutagenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide in S. cerevisiae D7 strain. In conclusion, Lys LJ showed both an antimutagenic effect in yeast and a strong scavenging activity in yeast and human cells.

Antimutagenic and antioxidant activity of Lisosan G in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In the present study the antimutagenic and antioxidant effects of a powder of grain (Lisosan G) in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. Results showed that Lisosan G treatment decreased significantly the intracellular ROS concentration and mutagenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide in S. cerevisiae D7 strain. The effect of Lisosan G was then evaluated by using superoxide dismutase (SOD) proficient and deficient strains of S. cerevisiae. Lisosan G showed protective activity in sod1Δ and sod2Δ mutant strains, indicating an in vivo antioxidant effect. A high radical scavenging activity of Lisosan G was also demonstrated in vitro using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The obtained results showed a protective effect of Lisosan G in yeast cells, indicating that its antioxidant capacity contributes to its antimutagenic action.

A multidisciplinary approach for assessing the toxicity of marine sediments: analysis of metal content and elutriate bioassays using metal bioavailability and genotoxicity biomarkers.

The goal of this article is to verify the applicability of two different biological assays for studying a coastal area that is subject to anthropogenic inputs. Phytochelatins in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii were used as a biomarker of metal bioavailability. The frequency of genetic damage in the sensitive D7 strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to estimate the mutagenic potential. Biological assays were carried out using sediment elutriates. Sediments were collected at three selected sites located in the Gulf of Follonica (Tuscany, Italy), during a 2-year sampling period: Cala Violina (reference site) and the mouths of the rivers Pecora and Cornia, named sites V, P and C, respectively. The chemical characterization of each site was determined in terms of metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb), measured in 11 sediment samples for each site. The results showed that metal concentrations in sediments from sites C and P were 2-10 times higher than the reference values (site V, year 2004). In addition, we found generally higher metal concentrations in the 2007 sediments than in the 2008 ones, including those of site V, due to the occurrence of an unexpected pollution event. This enabled us to obtain a pollution gradient to validate the proposed bioassays. In fact, the bioassays showed a potential biological hazard in the 2007 elutriates. Significant mutagenic effects were found in samples exhibiting higher concentrations of Cd and Cr. The induction of phytochelatins in T. weissflogii correlated positively with the Cd concentration in the elutriates.

Genotoxicity evaluation of effluents from textile industries of the region Fez-Boulmane, Morocco: a case study.

In order to investigate the biological hazard of effluents from textile industries of Fez-Boulmane region in Morocco, mutagenicity and phytotoxicity tests were performed on different biological systems. Moreover, the efficiency of a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) system, working by activated sludge on a laboratory scale, was estimated by comparing the ecotoxicity results observed before and after wastewater treatment. Evaluation of the genotoxic potential was investigated by means of classic mutagenicity tests on D7 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and by phytotoxicity tests on Allium sativum L., Vicia faba L. and Lactuca sativa L., estimating micronuclei presence, mitotic index and cytogenetic anomalies. The results obtained by testing untreated wastewater demonstrated major genotoxicity effects in S. cerevisiae and various levels of phytotoxicity in the three plant systems, while after SBR treatment no more ecotoxicological consequences were observed. These data confirm the effectiveness of the SBR system in removing toxic substances from textile wastewaters in Fez-Boulmane region.

Genotoxicity of 4-nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylate mixtures by the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7 mutation assay and use of this text to evaluate the efficiency of biodegradation treatments.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEOs, where n is the number of ethoxylic units in the molecule) are non-ionic surfactants widely used for domestic and industrial purposes. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP), the main product of NPnEO biodegradation, is a toxic xenobiotic compound classified as endocrine disrupter. While numerous studies reported the toxicity and oestrogenic activity of nonylphenols, little is known about the mutagenicity of these compounds. In this paper, the genotoxicity of 4-NP and NPnEO mixtures was evaluated by using the D7 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as experimental model. The same genotoxicity tests were applied to effluents deriving from experimental packed-bed bioreactors, developed for the treatment of NPnEO contaminated wastewater, in order to evaluate the residual genotoxic potential with respect to the influent waste. The target compounds fed to the bioreactors were 4-NP and NPnEO mixtures possessing an average of 5 or 1.5 ethoxylic units (Igepal CO-520 and Igepal CO-210, respectively). The results showed that 4-NP induced significant cytotoxic effect on S. cerevisiae cells at 50 mg/L, as well as mutagenic effects at the lowest tested concentrations (12 and 25 mg/L). 4-NP was the most genotoxic compound among those assayed, followed by Igepal CO-210, whereas Igepal CO-520 did not induce genotoxicity at any of the assayed concentrations. The genotoxic effects of 4-NP on yeast cells disappeared after the treatment of 4-NP artificially contaminated water in the bioreactor. This indicates that the biological treatment is capable of removing not only the pollutant, but also the toxicity associated to the compound and its degradation metabolites. This study represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first report that evaluates the genotoxicity of both 4-NP, NPnEOs and their potential aerobic degradation products on an eukaryotic organism. The obtained results suggest that the S. cerevisiae D7 strain is a very effective model microorganism to study the induction of genotoxic damage by the compounds under study. Moreover, this yeast assay has been proved effective to evaluate the detoxification effect deriving from biotreatment processes.

The role of zinc in life: a review.

Zinc is a common element in human and natural environments and plays an important part in many biological processes. Zinc, which is defined as an essential trace element, or a micronutrient, is essential for the normal growth and the reproduction of all higher plants and animals, and of humans. In addition, it plays a key role during physiological growth and fulfills an immune function. It is vital for the functionality of more than 300 enzymes, for the stabilization of DNA, and for gene expression. This review summarizes the role and manifestations of zinc in the environment and its importance for human health and metabolism, as well as its physiological role. Toxicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, and immunological functions of zinc are outlined with particular reference to the properties of zinc as an antioxidant, and its role in cancer prevention.

Antimutagenicity of sodium selenite in Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to azoxymethane, methylmethansulphonate and hydrogen peroxide.

In the last 10 years, there is an increasing interest in selenium (Se) because of its environmental, biological, and toxicological importance, and in particular, because of its antioxidant properties. However, inspite of extensive studies, the optimal concentration of Se to be used for its beneficial effects in not yet known. In addition, the mechanisms of Se antioxidant property require further study. We report on the effects of various mutagens/carcinogens such as azoxymethane, methylmethanesulphonate, and hydrogen peroxide on Chinese V79 hamster cells, in presence of sodium selenite in the concentration of 0.5 microM. We found that Se reduced the genotoxic effect of these mutagens/carcinogens. We also investigated enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase, in order to understand the Se involvement in the detoxification of free radicals. Sodium selenite increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase.