Ameliorative role of naringenin against lead-induced genetic damage and oxidative stress in cultured human lymphocytes.

Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous toxic heavy metal that is known to induce damage to major macromolecules (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) by enhancing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Naringenin, a predominant flavonoid primarily found in citrus fruits has attained increasing attention due to its various pharmacological properties. Thus, the present investigation aimed to explore the ameliorative role of naringenin against Pb-induced toxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) under in vitro conditions. For this purpose, PBLs were exposed to Pb (350 µg/ml) alone as well in combination with naringenin (10 and 30 µg/ml). Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and alkaline comet assay were used as genotoxic indices to evaluate the genotoxic and antigenotoxic activity of Pb and naringenin, respectively. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) assays were used as oxidative damage markers. The results revealed that Pb induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in genetic and oxidative damage as compared with the untreated sample whereas the treatment of cells along with naringenin (10 and 30 µg/ml) and Pb (350 µg/ml) caused a significant reduction in genetic damage and elevation in SOD, GPx, and CAT activities and GSH level, accompanied by a significant reduction in LPO level as compared with Pb alone treated sample. So, the present investigation revealed that naringenin might be used as a protective agent against Pb-induced toxicity due to its antigenotoxic and antioxidative properties.

Antigenotoxic effects of morin against lead induced genomic damage in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Lead (Pb) is a well-known carcinogenic heavy metal. Exposure to Pb induces DNA damage by enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). One of the possible ways to shield DNA from this damage is to supply antioxidants that can remove free radicals generated by genotoxicants. Hence, the current study was designed to evaluate the antigenotoxic potential of a flavonoid compound; morin against Pb-induced genomic damage on cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The effect of Pb or morin or their combination was evaluated on the DNA damage using comet and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays. The results indicated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the SCE frequency and various comet parameters in a dose-dependent manner upon treatment with lead as compared to control in cultured PBL. Supplementation of morin along with Pb effectively negated DNA damage as measured by SCE frequency and comet parameters. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Results of our current study suggest that the DNA damage induced by genotoxicants can be overcome by co-treatment with natural antioxidants, found in dietary supplements such as vegetables and fruits.