Abstract
Metal ions such as iron can induce DNA damage by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. Vitamin C is one of the most widely consumed antioxidants worldwide, present in many fruits and vegetables, especially inMalpighia glabra L., popularly known as acerola, native to Brazil. Acerola is considered a functional fruit due to its high antioxidant properties and phenolic contents, and therefore is consumed to prevent diseases or as adjuvant in treatment strategies. Here, the influence of ripe and unripe acerola juices on iron genotoxicity was analyzed in vivo using the comet assay and micronucleus test. The comet assay results showed that acerola juice exerted no genotoxic or antigenotoxic activity. Neither ripe nor unripe acerola juices were mutagenic to animals treated with juices, in micronucleus test. However, when compared to iron group, the pre-treatment with acerola juices exerted antimutagenic activity, decreasing significantly micronucleus mean values in bone marrow. Stage of ripeness did not influence the interaction of acerola compounds with DNA, and both ripe and unripe acerola juices exerted protective effect over DNA damage generated by iron.
Highlights
Fruits play a prominent role in the prevention of various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative conditions
More attention has been paid to these foods, since epidemiological evidence has shown that regular consumption of vegetables is associated with reduced mortality and morbidity from some chronic diseases (Strandhagen et al, 2000), and its protective effect has been attributed to the presence of constituents with antioxidant properties such as pholyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins (Nunes et al, 2011; Kahl et al, 2012; Liu, 2013; Kozlowska and Szotask-Wegierek, 2014)
For example, may be mediated by the interaction of juice compounds with transition metals or by-products of juice auto-oxidation; Vitamin C can act as a pro-oxidant, because its reducing ability, through Fenton and Fenton-like reactions (De Freitas and Meneghini, 2001)
Summary
Fruits play a prominent role in the prevention of various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative conditions. Malpighia glabra L., popularly called “acerola” in Brazil or “Barbados cherry”, is a native species from tropical America. Acerola compounds, such as vitamin C, carotenoids, precursors of vitamin A, lycopene, among others (Chaves et al, 2004), depends on the cultivars, environmental conditions and the stage of fruit ripeness (Chaves et al, 2004; Nunes et al, 2011). For example, may be mediated by the interaction of juice compounds with transition metals or by-products of juice auto-oxidation; Vitamin C can act as a pro-oxidant, because its reducing ability, through Fenton and Fenton-like reactions (De Freitas and Meneghini, 2001)
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