Abstract
Nowadays, healthy eating is increasing the demand of functional foods by societies as sources of bioactive products with healthy qualities. For this reason, we tested the safety of the consumption of Borago officinalis L. and its main phenolic components as well as the possibility of its use as a nutraceutical plant to help in cancer prevention. The in vivo Drosophila Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) and in vitro HL-60 human cell systems were performed, as well-recognized methods for testing genotoxicity/cytotoxicity of bioactive compounds and plant products. B. officinalis and the tested compounds possess antigenotoxic activity. Moreover, B. officinalis wild type cultivar exerts the most antigenotoxic values. Cytotoxic effect was probed for both cultivars with IC50 values of 0.49 and 0.28 mg·mL−1 for wild type and cultivated plants respectively, as well as their constituent rosmarinic acid and the assayed phenolic mixture (IC50 = 0.07 and 0.04 mM respectively). B. officinalis exerts DNA protection and anticarcinogenic effects as do its component rosmarinic acid and the mixture of the main phenolics presented in the plant. In conclusion, the results showed that B. officinalis may represent a high value plant for pleiotropic uses and support its consumption as a nutraceutical plant.
Highlights
Healthy eating is one of the most pursued objectives in today’s society
The D. melanogaster system was selected for the determination of the safety of B. officinalis consumption as a well-recognized method to analyze vegetable complex mixtures using Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) [31,32]
Current revisions of Borago ssp. properties suggest that the complex bioactive compound leaf composition of this species is more beneficial than harmful for human health because of its phenolic content [3]. This fact could explain the difference we have found between B. officinalis blue flowered (BF) and white flowered (WF) toxicity levels
Summary
Healthy eating is one of the most pursued objectives in today’s society. The increased demand for food with protection properties against diseases has made herbal products a principal target for industry requirements and government recommendations. Borage (Borago officinalis L., Boraginaceae), known as starflower, is a native annual plant in the Mediterranean region that has been used since ancient times for culinary and medicinal purposes, for the treatment of swelling and inflammation, respiratory complaints and melancholy (“I, Borage, bring always courage,” translation of the old verse “Ego borago gaudia semper ago”) [2] Health properties such as anti-obesity, diuretic, emollient, lenitive, laxative, anti-anemic, menstrual analgesic and antipyretic properties are recorded [3,4,5]. The interaction between these bioactive compounds is tested, highlighting their potential use and commercialization by industries for products with health benefits as dietary bioactives
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