Protective effect of argan oil on DNA damage in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Background: Iron-overload is a well-known cause for the development of chronic liver diseases and known to induce DNA damage.

Material and methods: The protective effect of argan oil (AO) from the Argania spinosa fruit and olive oil (OO) (6% AO or OO for 28 days) was evaluated on a mouse model of iron overload (3.5mg Fe²⁺/liter) and in human fibroblasts where DNA damage was induced via culture under hyperoxia (40% oxygen).

Results: Iron treatment induced DNA damage in liver tissue while both oils were able to decrease it. We confirmed this effect in vitro in MRC-5 fibroblasts under hyperoxia. A cell-free ABTS assay suggested that improvement of liver toxicity by both oils might depend on a high content in tocopherol, phytosterol and polyphenol compounds known for their antioxidant potential. The antioxidant effect of AO was confirmed in fibroblasts by reduced intracellular peroxide levels after hyperoxia. However, we could not find a significant decrease of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2) or senescence markers (p16 and p21) for the oils in mouse liver.

Conclusion: We found a striking effect of AO by ameliorating DNA damage after iron overload in a mouse liver model and in human fibroblasts by hyperoxia adding compelling evidence to the protective mechanisms of AO and OO.

Keywords:

• Iron
• argan oil
• antioxidant activity
• oxidative stress
• DNA damage
• γH2A.X foci

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Tengfei Wan for excellent technical help.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministère de l’enseignement et de la Recherche, Morocco via a mobility grant from University Hassan the first, Settat, Morocco to HB.