Evaluation of antigenotoxic effects of carotenoids from green algae Chlorococcum humicola using human lymphocytes

Objective:To identify the available phytochemicals and carotenoids in the selected green algae and evaluate the potential genotoxic/antigenotoxic effect using lymphocytes.Methods:Organic,solvent extracts of Chlorococcum humicola(C.humicola)were used for the phytochemical analysis.The available carotenoids were assessed by HPLC,and LC-MS analysis.The genotoxicity was induced by the benzo(a)pyrene in the lymphocyte culture,the genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of algal carotenoids with and without genotoxic inducer were evaluated by chromosomal aberration(CA),sister chromatid exchange(SCE)and micronucleus assay(MN).Results:The results of the analysis showed that the algae were rich in carotenoids and fatty acids.In the total carotenoids lutein,β-carotene andα-carotene were found to be present in higher concentration.The frequency of CA and SCE increased by benzo(a)pyrene were significantly decreased by the carotenoids(P<0.05 for CA,P<0.001 for SCE).The MN frequencies of the cells were significantly decreased by the treatment with carotenoids when compared with the positive controls(P<0.05).Conclusions:The findings of the present study demonstrate that,the green algae C.humicola is a rich source of bioactive compounds especially carotenoids which effectively fight against environmental genotoxic agents,the carotenoids itself is not a genotoxic substance and should be further considered for its beneficial effects.

苯并（a）芘对人血淋巴细胞的细胞遗传学损伤研究

以不同浓度苯并（ａ）芘（ＢａＰ）对人血淋巴细胞进行体外染毒，运用微核（ＭＮ）、染色体畸变（ＣＡ）和姊妹染色单体交换（ＳＣＥ）试验，综合评价了ＢａＰ对人血淋巴细胞的细胞遗传学损伤作用。结果表明，经Ｓ９代谢活化，ＢａＰ可诱发细胞ＭＮ率、ＣＡ率和ＳＣＥ率显著增高，并呈现明显浓度－反应关系。上述三指标的变化相互间呈高度正相关。三项指标中与ＢａＰ染毒浓度的对数值呈高度正相关。三项指标中ＳＣＥ试验的浓度－反应关系最好，敏感性和精密度最高。