Evaluation of cytotoxicity, acute toxicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant and antigenotoxicity activities of the sarcotesta fraction of punica granatum L. rich in lectin (PgTel)

ABSTRACT

Punica granatum, popularly known as pomegranate, is a fruit tree with wide worldwide distribution, containing numerous phytochemicals of great medicinal value. The aim of the present study was to determine the phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of a protein fraction (PF) derived from P. granatum sarcotesta which is rich in lectin. In addition, the acute oral toxicity, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of this protein fraction (PF) from P. granatum sarcotesta was measured. The phytochemical profile of PF was determined using HPLC. The in vitro antioxidant effect was assessed using the methods of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging. Acute oral toxicity was determined in female Swiss mice administered a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. This PF was examined for genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, utilizing mouse peripheral blood cells. Phytochemical characterization detected a high content of ellagic acid and antioxidant capacity similar to that of ascorbic acid (positive control). PF was not toxic (LD₅₀ >2000 mg/kg) and did not exert a genotoxic effect in mice. PF protected the DNA of peripheral blood cells against damage induced by cyclophosphamide. In conclusion, this PF fraction exhibited significant antioxidant activity without initiating toxic or genotoxic responses in mice.

KEYWORDS:

• Pomegranate
• toxicity assessment
• acute toxicity
• swiss female mice
• antioxidant

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

CrediT authorship contribution statement

Leila Coelho: Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing – original draft. Elinaldo Bento: Methodology. Wêndeo Costa: Software, Formal analysis, Data curation. Magda Ferreira: Methodology. Luiz Soares, Márcia Silva and Patrícia Paiva: Methodology, Funding acquisition. Alisson Oliveira and Thiago Napoleão: Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision.

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for research fellowship (LALS, THN and PMGP) as well as to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES; Finance Code 001) and the Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE; APQ-0108-2.08/14; APQ-0661-2.08/15) for financial support. LVAC would like to thank CAPES for the graduate scholarship.