https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1769-5067
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Abstract
Antigenotoxic properties of plant- and plant-like derived foods may embody nutritional strategies against DNA damage. Marine macroalgae have shown DNA-protective effects, but their nutraceutical potential and the influence of growing conditions on these properties is underexplored. Hence, we aimed to assess the genoprotection potential of wild-harvested vs. aquacultured Ulva rigida on Drosophila melanogaster, following a dietary exposure, in the presence and absence of a genotoxic agent (streptonigrin) using phytochemical profiling. DNA damage was evaluated with a single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay improved with endonucleases. An origin-based phytochemical profile was found, with aquacultured algae showing higher relative amounts of fatty alcohols, sterols, sesquiterpenoids and glycerol esters. Although U. rigida from both sources showed a DNA-protective action, especially against streptonigrin-induced genotoxicity, aquacultured algae demonstrated higher potential, which may be linked to the distinctive phytochemical profile. Overall, this study provided scientific evidence for the genoprotective activity of U. rigida and its confirmation as a functional food.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr Malcolm Purves (professional translator) for the manuscript proofreading and editing.
Conflict of interests
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary information
The following supplementary material is accessible via the Supplementary Content tab on the article’s online page at http://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2020.1778796
Supplementary table 1. Drosophila melanogaster prolificacy (number of hatched individuals) registered on the preliminary study for the different levels of supplementation with wild-harvested (U1) and aqua-cultured (U2) Ulva rigida.
Author contributions
A. Marques: macroalgae harvesting, practical work, data analysis, manuscript writing; J. Ferreira: practical work, manuscript editing; H. Abreu and R. Pereira: macroalgae harvesting, identification and dehydration; D. Pinto and A. Silva: phytochemical characterization; I. Gaivão and M. Pacheco: original concept, manuscript editing.
Supplemental Material
The following supplementary material is accessible via the Supplementary Content tab on the article’s online page at https://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2020.1778796.