Evaluation of Genotoxicity and Antigenotoxicity of Artepillin C in V79 Cells by the Comet and Micronucleus Assays

Abstract

Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-p-coumaric acid) is one of the major phenolic compounds found in Brazilian green propolis, as well as in its botanical source, Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae). The present study evaluated the possible genotoxic and protective activities of artepillin C, in vitro, using methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) as a positive control, by comet and micronucleus assays. The cultures of Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells) were treated with different concentrations of artepillin C (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20 μM). In antigenotoxicity assessment, the 3 concentrations of artepillin C (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μM) were associated with MMS (200 μM-comet assay and 400 μM-micronucleus assay). A statistically significant increase in the DNA damage and micronucleus frequencies was observed in the culture treated with the highest concentration of the artepillin C in comparison to the control group. All concentrations of artepillin C showed protective activity in relation to MMS-induced genotoxicity, which may be due to its antioxidant properties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; Grants 2007/07211-6), Brazil. Pollyanna Francielli de Oliveira thanks FAPESP for a Master's scholarship (grant number 2009/12019-2) and Ildercílio Mota de Souza Lima was the recipient of a fellowship from FAPESP (grant number 2009/05944-1). Also, the authors are grateful to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for their fellowships.