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Bixin and norbixin protect against DNA‐damage and alterations of redox status induced by methylmercury exposure in vivo
Author(s) -
Barcelos Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron,
Grotto Denise,
Serpeloni Juliana Mara,
Aissa Alexandre Ferro,
Antunes Lusânia Maria Greggi,
Knasmüller Siegfried,
Barbosa Fernando
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.21715
Subject(s) - carotenoid , catalase , glutathione , chemistry , dna damage , in vivo , methylmercury , antioxidant , biochemistry , mutagen , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , pharmacology , biology , enzyme , environmental chemistry , bioaccumulation , genetics
Populations in the Amazon are exposed to organic mercury via consumption of contaminated foods. These ethnic groups consume a specific plant seed “annatto” which contains certain carotenoids. The aim of this study was to find out if these compounds (bixin, BIX and norbixin, NOR), protect against DNA‐damage caused by the metal. Therefore, rats were treated orally with methylmercury (MeHg) and with the carotenoids under conditions that are relevant to humans. The animals were treated either with MeHg (30 μg/kg/bw/day), BIX (0.1–10 mg/kg/bw/day), NOR (0.01–1.0 mg/kg/bw/day) or combinations of the metal compound and the carotenoids consecutively for 45 days. Subsequently, the glutathione levels (GSH) and the activity of catalase were determined, and DNA‐damage was measured in hepatocytes and leukocytes using single cell gel electrophoresis assays. Treatment with the metal alone caused a decrease in the GSH levels (35%) and induced DNA damage, which resulted in increased DNA migration after electrophoresis in liver and blood cells, whereas no effects were seen with the carotenoids alone. When BIX or NOR were given in combination with organic mercury, the intermediate and the highest concentrations of the carotenoids (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/bw/day BIX and 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg/bw/day NOR) protected against DNA‐damage. Furthermore, we found with both carotenoids, a moderate increase in the GSH levels in both metal‐treated and untreated animals, while the activities of catalase remained unchanged. Our results indicate that consumption of BIX and NOR may protect humans against the adverse health effects caused by exposure to organic mercury. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.