To be or not to be a carcinogen; delving into the glyphosate classification controversy

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) placed the most widely used herbicide glyphosate (GLY) into the category 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans), a classification questioned by experts from academia and industry. This article critically appraised the epidemiological and experimental data that led the IARC working group (WG) to consider GLY a probable human carcinogen and the ensuing controversy. An association of GLY with non-Hodgkin lymphoma was suggested by some observational studies. A non-causal explanation for this weak association, however, cannot be excluded. Contrary to WG's view, long-term rodent assays yielded no convincing evidence that GLY is carcinogenic. The mechanistic evidence remains elusive as well. Bacterial reverse mutation tests (including tester strains sensitive to oxidative mutagens) were clearly negative, and so were rodent genotoxicity assays by oral route. Tests with mammalian cells in vitro yielded conflicting results at high (cytotoxic) concentrations of GLY-based formulations. Conflicting results were also obtained when high doses of GLY-based herbicides were administered to rodents by the intraperitoneal route. Such high doses are unlikely to be attained in realistic scenarios of exposure. Finally, the IARC classification is based on a conjectural hazard, and rational public health interventions must be based on estimated risks.

Efecto in vivo del vino tinto sin diluir, diluido (75%) y sin alcohol sobre el daño genotóxico inducido por metales pesados con potencial cancerígeno: cromo [VI] / In vivo effect of red wine undiluted, diluted (75%) and alcohol-free on the genotoxic damage induced by potential carcinogenic metals: chromium [VI]

Introducción: la carcinogénesis puede ser iniciada y promovida por el daño oxidativo al ADN. Los compuestos de cromo (Cr) [VI] generan estrés oxidativo (EOx) y son reconocidos como cancerígenos en humanos. En este sentido, se plantea que bebidas que presentan un alto potencial antioxidante, como el vino tinto, pudieran tener efectos protectores o moduladores del daño oxidativo al ADN. Objetivo: estudiar los efectos de la administración in vivo de vino tinto sin diluir, diluido (75%) y sin alcohol, sobre el daño genotóxico inducido por metales cancerígenos (Cr [VI]), mediante la evaluación de micronúcleos (MN) en eritrocitos policromáticos (EPC) de ratones (CD-1). Material y método: se conformaron aleatoriamente los siguientes grupos: (i) testigo, (ii) vino tinto sin diluir, diluido o sin alcohol (libre acceso), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg por vía intraperitoneal) y (iv) vino tinto-CrO3. Las evaluaciones se realizaron en muestras de sangre obtenidas de la vena caudal, en las que se identificaron los MN en EPC antes, durante y después de los tratamientos. Resultados y discusión: el vino tinto (diluido y sin alcohol) fue capaz de disminuir los promedios de MN inducidos por el CrO3, lo que muestra su capacidad para modular in vivo el daño oxidativo al ADN causado por cancerígenos inductores de EOx. La administración únicamente de vino tinto sin diluir presentó efectos tóxicos. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados generan expectativas sobre el empleo de sustancias como el vino tinto en la protección o modulación del daño genotóxico, lo que podría conducir a su aplicación en los procesos de carcinogénesis y mutagénesis (AU)

Introduction: the carcinogenesis may be initiated and promoted by the oxidative DNA damage. The compounds of chrome (Cr [VI]) cause oxidative stress (EOx) and are recognized as carcinogens in humans. In this sense, it is proposed that drinks with a high antioxidative potential, such as red wine, may have protective or modulatory effects on the oxidative DNA damage. Objective: to study the effects of the administration in vivo of undiluted, diluted (75%) and alcohol-free red wine on the genotoxic damage induced by carcinogenic metals (Cr [VI]), by evaluating the micronucleus (MN) in polychromatic erythrocytes (EPC) in mice (CD-1). Material and method: it was randomly organized the follow groups: (i) control, (ii) undiluted, diluted and alcohol-free red wine (free access), (iii) CrO3 (20 mg/kg by intraperitoneal route) and (iv) CrO3 -red wine. The evaluations were made in blood samples obtained from the caudal vein, in which it was identified the MN and EPC before, during and after treatments. Results and discussion: the red wine (diluted and alcohol-free) was capable of decreasing the averages of MN induced by CrO3, demonstrating its modular capacity in vivo in the oxidative DNA damage caused by EOx-induced carcinogens. The administration of only undiluted red wine presented toxic effects. Conclusions: our results raises expectations on the use of substances like the red wine for the protection or modulation of genotoxic damage, encouraging its application in the carcinogenic and mutagenic processes (AU)

Análisis fitoquímico de Jatropha dioica y determinación de su efectoantioxidante y quimioprotector sobre el potencial genotóxico deciclofosfamida, daunorrubicina y metilmetanosulfonato evaluadomediante el ensayo cometa / Phytochemical analysis of Jatropha dioica and determination of its antioxidant and chemopreventive effect on the genotoxic potential of cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin and methyl methane-sulfonate evaluated by the comet assay

Dragon ́s blood root (Jatropha dioica) underwent a phytochemical screening showing the presence of flavonoids and terpenes responsible for the antioxidant potential observed in DPPH model for the decoction, aqueous and methanolic extracts. The chemoprotective effect of the root decoction was evaluated in liver, kidney and bone marrow cells of mice using the comet assay. Mutagens were administered via IP: cyclophosphamide (CCF) 50 mg/kg, daunorubicin (DAU) 10 mg/kg, and metyl metanesulfonate (MMS) 40 mg/kg, were co-administered with three doses of decoction 3.72 ml/kg, 10.71 ml/kg, and 21.42 ml/kg orally. Animals were sacrificed at 3, 9, 15 and 21 h after inoculation. The chemoprotective effect decreased DNA breaks at 3 hours in all organs, and longer against CCF and DAU, this effect probably being related to the antioxidant capacity of the decoction.

La raíz de Sangre de Drago (Jatropha dioica) se sometió a un tamizaje fitoquímico destacando la presencia de flavonoides y terpenos, posibles responsables del efecto antioxidante observado en el modelo de DPPH para la decocción, extracto acuoso y metanólico de la raíz. El efecto quimioprotector de la decocción, se evaluó en células hepáticas, renales y de médula ósea de ratón, mediante el ensayo cometa. Los mutágenos administrados vía I.P.: ciclofosfamida (CCF) 50 mg/kg, daunorrubicina (DAU) 10 mg/kg y metilmetanosulfonato (MMS) 40 mg/kg, se co-administraron con tres dosis de decocción 3,72 ml/kg, 10,71 ml/kg y 21,42 ml/kg, vía oral. Los animales fueron sacrificados a las 3, 9, 15 y 21 h posteriores a la aplicación. El efecto quimioprotector disminuyó las rupturas del DNA a las 3 horas en todos los órganos con los tres mutágenos, y permaneció por más tiempo frente a CCF y DAU, dicho efecto está relacionado con la capacidad antioxidante de la decocción.

Respuesta de ratones Balb/c frente a ciclofosfamida y bleomicina en el ensayo cometa alcalino de linfocitos de sangre periférica / Balb/c mice response against cyclophosphamide and bleomycin in the alkaline comet assay of peripheral blood lymphocytes

En este artículo se evaluó el efecto mutágenico de la ciclofosfamida y bleomicina, con el objetivo de armonizar el número de exposiciones al ser utilizadas como controles positivos en ensayos in vivo de genotoxicidad, mediante el ensayo cometa alcalino. Se realizó en linfocitos de sangre periférica, utilizando 10 ratones/grupo/sexo de la línea Balb/c como biomodelo experimental. Fueron formados 5 grupos experimentales/sexo, el primero administrado con NaCl al 0,9% por vía intraperitoneal (i.p) como control negativo. El segundo y el tercero administrados con ciclofosfamida por vía i.p, con diseños de tratamientos diferentes en dosis de 50 mg/kg. El cuarto y quinto grupo fueron administrados con bleomicina por vía i.p, igualmente en dos diseños de tratamientos diferentes en dosis de 20 mg/kg. El mayor valor de inducción de daño se obtuvo con el uso de la ciclofosfamida y bleomicina, ambas en el diseño de administración de 48 y 24 horas antes de la eutanasia. Este estudio será aplicable a la evaluación de drogas que no han sido exploradas en el ámbito de la antigenotoxicidad y genotoxicidad in vivo. Además permitirá contar con un mayor conocimiento acerca de este ensayo, favoreciendo su validación (AU)

In this article were evaluated the mutagenic effect of cyclophosphamide and bleomycin, with the objective of harmonizing the number of exhibitions when being used as positive controls on in vivo genotoxicity assay, by means of alkaline comet assay. It was carried out in peripheral blood lymphocytes, using 10 mice/group/sex of the Balb/c line as experimental biomodel. We were formed 5 experimental groups per sex. The first group was administered with NaCl 0,9 % by intraperitoneal (i.p) route. The second and third groups were administered with cyclophosphamide by i.p route, with designs of different treatments at doses of 50 mg/kg. The fourth and fifth groups were administered with bleomycin by i.p route, equally in two designs of different treatments at doses of 20 mg/kg. The bigger inductions of damage were obtained with the use of the cyclophosphamide and bleomycin, both in the design of 48 and 24 hours administration before the euthanasia. This study will be applicable to the drugs evaluation that they have not been explored in to the in vivo antigenotoxicity and genotoxicity environment. It will also allow having a bigger knowledge about this assay, favoring their validation (AU)