Mutagenic, antioxidant and wound healing properties of Aloe vera.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aloe vera is a widely used medicinal plant for its various biological activities. This study evaluate possible mutagenic and healing effects of the aqueous extract of A. vera (AEAV) in mice and its oxidant/antioxidant potential in different proficient and deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The AEAV was topically treated on the wounded skin surface of male albino mice at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg for seven successive days. The control group was similarly treated with 0.9% NaCl solution. For oxidative/anti-oxidative evaluation, both proficient and deficient strains of S. cerevisiae [cytoplasmic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase mutant (SOD: Sod1Δ and Sod2Δ), cytoplasmic catalase mutant (CAT: Cat1Δ)], two double defective mutants of Sod1 and Sod2 and Sod1 and Cat1 genes along with a wild-type strains were used. RESULTS: The healing property of AEAV was observed at the dose of 50 mg/kg but at the same dose it showed mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in peripheral blood. AEAV did not produce the oxidizing effect, except in the mutated CAT strain at highest concentration (50 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: The high concentration of AEAV showed mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Beside, the healing capacity is believed to be due to its anti-oxidative defense mechanism.

Persistent Increased Frequency of Genomic Instability in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: Before, during, and after Treatments.

This study aimed to evaluate DNA damage in patients with breast cancer before treatment (background) and after chemotherapy (QT) and radiotherapy (RT) treatment using the Comet assay in peripheral blood and the micronucleus test in buccal cells. We also evaluated repair of DNA damage after the end of RT, as well as the response of patient's cells before treatment with an oxidizing agent (H2O2; challenge assay). Fifty women with a mammographic diagnosis negative for cancer (control group) and 100 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer (followed up during the treatment) were involved in this study. The significant DNA damage was observed by increasing in the index and frequency of damage along with the increasing of the frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood and cells of the buccal mucosa, respectively. Despite the variability of the responses of breast cancer patients, the individuals presented lesions on the DNA, detected by the Comet assay and micronucleus Test, from the diagnosis until the end of the oncological treatment and were more susceptible to oxidative stress. We can conclude that the damages were due to clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects related to the neoplasia itself and that they increased, especially after RT.

Occupational and life-style factors-acquired mutagenicity in agric-workers of northeastern Brazil.

Pesticides are a complex mixture of chemicals used to protect crops from a number of pests and diseases. They have been considered as potential mutagenic agents. This study aims at evaluation of the mutagenic effect of pesticide exposure to agricultural workers through chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronucleus (MN) assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes and oral mucosal cells, respectively. The exposed group was consisted with 97 farmers, while the control (un-exposed) group consisted of 55. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in frequency of CA and MN in the exposed group. Both CA and MN profiles were linked to a significant (p < 0.05) co-relation with the confounding factors such as smoking habits, alcohol, vegetables, tea/coffee, vitamins, and sweetener consumptions. More cytogenetic events were denoted in smoking and alcohol consumption as well as non-personal protective equipment (non-PPE) and low/no vegetables user farmers. In conclusion, a deficiency of dietary and medicaments-derived antioxidants, while consumption of alcohol and tobacco, as well as effects of radiation, heavy metal poisoning (especially from sweeteners), and non-PPE using habits, may contribute cytogenetic damage to the workers.