Abstract
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo) is a seasonal vegetable with high nutritional and medical values. Many useful properties of this fruit are attributed to bioactive compounds. Zucchini fruits (“Yellow” and “Light Green” varieties) and four distinctive components (lutein, β-carotene, zeaxanthin and dehydroascorbic acid) were selected. Firstly, the lutein, β-carotene, zeaxanthin and dehydroascorbic acid contents were determined in these fruits. Then, in order to evaluate the safety and suitability of their use, different assays were carried out: (i) genotoxicity and anti-genotoxicity tests to determine the safety and DNA-protection against hydrogen peroxide; (ii) cytotoxicity; and (iii) DNA fragmentation and Annexin V/PI (Propidium Iodide) assays to evaluate the pro-apoptotic effect. Results showed that: (i) all the substances were non-genotoxic; (ii) all the substances were anti-genotoxic except the highest concentration of lutein; (iii) “Yellow” zucchini epicarp and mesocarp exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 0.1 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively); and (iv) “Light Green” zucchini skin induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, β-carotene being the possible molecule responsible for its pro-apoptotic activity. To sum up, zucchini fruit could play a positive role in human health and nutrition due to this fruit and its components were safe, able to inhibit significantly the H2O2-induced damage and exhibit anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities toward HL60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cells) tumor cells. The information generated from this research should be considered when selecting potential accessions for breeding program purposes.
Highlights
It is currently accepted that diet affects the overall process of carcinogenesis by different mechanisms: its constituents may contain cancer-causing substances as well as many cancer preventive agents [1]
Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo) is a seasonal vegetable that contains a number of beneficial micronutrients such as minerals, carotenoids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, etc. [7,8,9,10]
Anti-genotoxicity assays indicated that all the concentrations showed protective anti-genotoxic activity with different inhibition percentages in combined treatments with hydrogen peroxide as a genotoxicant, except for the highest concentration of lutein
Summary
It is currently accepted that diet affects the overall process of carcinogenesis by different mechanisms: its constituents may contain cancer-causing substances as well as many cancer preventive agents [1]. More than 20,000 species of plants are used in traditional medicines, alleged to be all potential reservoirs for new drugs [3] and are considered a potential source of chemical constituents with antitumor and cytotoxic activities [4]. Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and cryptoxanthin) [5,6]. Pepo) is a seasonal vegetable that contains a number of beneficial micronutrients such as minerals, carotenoids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, etc. It has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat colds and alleviate aches, due to its antioxidant/anti-radical, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial and analgesic activities [11,12,13,14,15]
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