Anti-genotoxic effect of naringin against bleomycin-induced genomic damage in human lymphocytes in vitro

Abstract

Naringin is a flavonoid found in grapefruit and other citrus fruits that shows antioxidant activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-genotoxic and protective effects of naringin on the chemotherapeutic/radiomimetic agent bleomycin (BLM) in human blood lymphocyte cultures in vitro using micronucleus test and chromosomal aberrations (CA) assay. We tested the three doses of naringin (1, 2, 3 mu g/mL) and a single dose of BLM (20 mu g/mL). BLM significantly increased the total CAs and micronucleus frequency at a concentration of 20 mu g/mL. Naringin did not show any toxicity in doses of 1, 2, and 3 mu g/mL. Combined treatments of BLM and naringin (2 and 3 mu g/mL) significantly reduced micronucleus formation. Naringin dose-dependently decreased the total chromosome aberrations frequency induced by BLM. These results indicate that naringin could prevent BLM (20 mu g/mL)-induced genotoxicity.