Antigenotoxicity of the soy isoflavone genistein in mice exposed to carcinogenic hexavalent chromium compounds

Introduction: the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as soy isoflavones may be an alternative in the protection and modulation against metal-induced genotoxicity with carcinogenic potential associated with oxidative stress.Objective: to evaluate the antigenotoxic effects of soy isoflavone genistein in mice exposed to carcinogenic compounds of hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]).Material and method: twenty-five male Hsd:ICR mice were divided into five groups treated as follows: a) vehicle 1 (sterile distilled water, intra-peritoneally); b) vehicle 2 (corn oil for fat-soluble compounds, orally); c) 15 mg/kg of genistein, orally; d) 20 mg/kg of CrO3, intraperitoneally; and e) 15 mg/kg of genistein four hours before the application of 20 mg/kg of CrO3. Evaluations of micronuclei (MN), apoptosis, ratio of polychromatic/ normochromatic erythrocytes (EPC/ENC) and cell viability in peripheral blood obtained at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours were performed.Results: the treatment with genistein reduced MN when administered prior to treatment with CrO3, the effect being greater at 48 hours (reduction of 84 %). Cell viability was reduced with genistein and CrO3 treatments alone, the effect being greater in the latter. Conclusions: genistein effectively blocked the genotoxic action of CrO3. The fact that MN and apoptosis were reduced in the group treated with genistein and CrO3 suggests that genistein could have inhibited the oxidative damage of Cr(VI) since, as there were no cells with damage, the apoptotic pathways were not activated.