Amelioration of genotoxic damage by certain phytoproducts in human lymphocyte cultures

The antigenotoxic effect of some phytoproducts like carotenoid (beta-carotene), curcumin, ascorbic acid and flavonoid (genistein) was demonstrated on the genotoxicity induced by hydrocortisone. Human lymphocyte cultures were studied for the induction of chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and effect on cell cycle kinetics with or without the presence of metabolic activation (S-9 mix). The phytoproducts were studied in two most effective doses viz. carotenoid (0.5 and 0.7 muM), curcumin (15 and 25 muM), ascorbic acid (60 and 80 muM) and flavonoid (25 and 40 muM) in 24, 48 and 72 h cultures, and they were found to reduce chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange and increase replication index. The present study showed that the ascorbic acid and curcumin were more effective than carotenoid and flavonoid, though all provide protection against the genotoxicity of hydrocortisone. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.