Evaluation of citotoxicity, genotoxicity, antigenotoxicity and gene expression of Tp53 and Ephx2 in rats treated with Caryocar villosum

Abstract

Since 1994 when was established the Research Group Food-Drug Interaction registered at CNPq, our goal has been investigations of the dietary bioactive compounds in the protection of the adverse effects induced by chemotherapy in vivo models. Currently, we cooperate in the thematic project supported by FAPESP "Integrated assessment of the stability and functional properties of food natural pigments", coordinated by Profª. Dr. Adriana Zerlotti Mercadante from FEA-UNICAMP. One of the goals of the thematic is the identification of pigments and extracts from fruits of the Amazon region, in addition to the investigation of their biological properties, to its application in industries of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.The diet is involved in several important cellular signaling pathways, as activation/detoxification of carcinogens, DNA repair and apoptosis. The role of diet as a key factor in determining the genomic instability is more important than previously thought and, therefore, the assessment of genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of the dietary components has become a critically important event in promoting health. Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers. (contry name: Piquiá) is a native plant of the Amazon rainforest. The piquiá fruits pulp are rich sources in ²-carotene, flavonoids and phenolic compounds and have a high antioxidant activity. Due to absence of data in the literature on the biological activity of the piquiá fruit extract, this study aims to evaluate the possible effects of the Caryocar villosum fruit extract through of genomic instability analysis (micronuclei and comet), biochemical changes (glutathione and lipid peroxidation) and gene expression (genes TP53 and EPHX2) in animals treated with the fruit extract associated or not with chemotherapeutic drug.