Journal of Environmental Biology

The protective role of phytochemicals on TiO₂ nanoparticles-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes

A-Reum Ryu¹, In-Chul Bang², Seong-A Lee³ and Mi-Young Lee^1,4*

¹Department of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Chungnam-336 745, Republic of Korea

²Department of Lifesystem, College of Natural Sciences, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, Chungnam-336 745, Republic of Korea

³Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medical Sciences, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, Chungnam-336 745, Republic of Korea

⁴Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Sciences, SoonChunHyang University, Asan, Chungnam-336 745, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author E-mail: miyoung@sch.ac.kr

Publication Data

Paper received:

31 March 2015

Revised received:

09 October 2015

Accepted:

15 January 2016

Abstract

The adverse health effect of nanoparticles is of concern for humans and environment. In the present study, TiO2-nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs)-induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes was measured by comet assay. 80 mg ml^-1 TiO₂-NPs induced approximately 3-fold increase in DNA damage than in the PBS-control group as measured by olive tail moment. However, on treating vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine, DNA damage was effectively protected in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the protective effect of several phytochemicals including berberine, resveratrol, sulforaphane, and curcumin on DNA damage caused by TiO₂-NPs was manifested. The increased olive tail moment induced by TiO₂-NPs was effectively inhibited by treatment with these phytochemicals. Especially, olive tail moment of 5 mg ml^-1 berberine-treated group was significantly reduced down to the level of control group, showing almost complete protection. Taken together, the protective effect of phytochemicals against DNA damage by TiO₂-NPs may be applied for the development of antidote for TiO₂ toxicity.

Key words

Comet assay, DNA damage, Lymphocyte, Phytochemical, TiO₂-nanoparticles

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