RESUMO
Exopolysaccharide isolated from Lactobacillus salivarius (new genus name Ligilactobacillus) KC27L strain (EPSKC27L) exhibits antioxidant properties with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazase (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical (O2-.) scavenging effect and iron ion (Fe2+) chelating activity. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro genotoxic effects of EPSKC27L alone (12.50, 25.00, 50.00, and 100.00 µg/mL) and its antigenotoxic activity against DNA damage induced by mitomycin-C (MMC; 0.20 µg/mL), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; 5.00 µg/mL), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 100 µM). For this purpose, chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronucleus (MN), and comet assays were performed in human peripheral lymphocytes. In addition, the structure of EPSKC27L was investigated in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). EPSKC27L alone did not cause a significant genotoxic effect in CA, SCE, MN, and comet tests. EPSKC27L significantly decreased the frequency of CA, SCE, and MN induced by MMC and MMS. EPSKC27L also significantly reduced DNA damage induced by H2O2. This study showed that the EPSKC27L alone has no genotoxic risk at these concentrations and shows antigenotoxic activity against MMC, MMS, and H2O2. Consequently, EPSKC27L was found to exhibit chemopreventive activity against genotoxic agents. This effect is believed to be due to the antioxidant properties of EPSKC27L.