Caryocar brasiliense camb protects against genomic and oxidative damage in urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis.

The antioxidant effects of Caryocar brasiliense Camb, commonly known as the pequi fruit, have not been evaluated to determine their protective effects against oxidative damage in lung carcinogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated the role of pequi fruit against urethane-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress in forty 8-12 week old male BALB/C mice. An in vivo comet assay was performed to assess DNA damage in lung tissues and changes in lipid peroxidation and redox cycle antioxidants were monitored for oxidative stress. Prior supplementation with pequi oil or its extract (15 µL, 60 days) significantly reduced urethane-induced oxidative stress. A protective effect against DNA damage was associated with the modulation of lipid peroxidation and low protein and gene expression of nitric oxide synthase. These findings suggest that the intake of pequi fruit might protect against in vivo genotoxicity and oxidative stress.

Genotoxic effects caused by indoor exposure to petroleum derivatives in a fuel quality control laboratory.

We looked for genotoxic effects in laboratory personnel routinely exposed to petroleum derivate compounds in an indoor environment. The exposed group of 21 workers from the Fuel Quality Control Laboratory of the Brazilian Petroleum Agency was matched with a group of 10 people from the staff of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes, micronuclei in exfoliated cells in the urine and hematological parameters were examined. There was a significantly increased level of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in the exposed group compared with controls. A high correlation between chromosome aberrations and micronuclei was observed in the exposed group (Spearman rank test, r = 0.73, P = 0.0001). The hematological parameters in these exposed individuals did not differ from reference values.

Dietary carotenoid-rich pequi oil reduces plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in runners and evidence for an association with MnSOD genetic variant -Val9Ala.

Physical training induces beneficial adaptations; however, exhausting exercise increases reactive oxygen species generation, resulting in damage to DNA and tissues. Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense), a fruit of the Brazilian Cerrado, contains a carotenoid-rich oil. We investigated whether pequi oil had antioxidant effects in runners. Evaluations were made after outdoor races before and after ingestion of 400 mg pequi-oil capsules for 14 days. Blood samples were taken after races and submitted to comet and TBARS assays and biochemical analyses of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). To determine if the protective effects of pequi-oil were influenced by antioxidant enzyme genotypes, MnSOD (-Val9Ala), CAT (-21A/T) and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) gene polymorphisms were also investigated. Pequi oil was efficient in reducing tissue injuries evaluated for AST and ALT, particularly in women, and in reducing DNA damages in both sexes. Except for CK levels, the results were influenced by MnSOD genotypes; heterozygous excess was related to less DNA damage, tissue injury and lipid peroxidation, besides presenting a better response to pequi oil against exercise-induced damage.

Recombinogenic effects of the aqueous extract of pulp from pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense) on somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. is a tree popularly known in Central Brazil as pequi. Its fruit contains carotenes, retinols, vitamin C, and polyphenols. These compounds possess antioxidant properties preventing excessive free radical formation and modulating the genotoxicity of physical and chemical agents in the body. However, at high concentrations these compounds can have recombinogenic and mutagenic effects, because they can act as pro-oxidants. We examined the genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of pequi pulp on wing spots of Drosophila melanogaster using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). SMART was applied to a standard cross and to a high bioactivation cross. Two types of descendants were obtained from these crosses: marked-heterozygous (mwh + / + flr3) and balancer-heterozygous (mwh + / + TM3, Bds). Seventy-two-hour larvae from both crosses were treated with pequi pulp extract at 1, 5 and 10%. The extract increased significantly the frequency of mutant spots when compared with the negative control. Recombinogenic effects were also observed in the mwh/TM3 descendants.