Archives of Toxicology

, 82:615 | Cite as

Cell protection induced by beta-sitosterol: inhibition of genotoxic damage, stimulation of lymphocyte production, and determination of its antioxidant capacity

  • R. Paniagua-Pérez
  • E. Madrigal-Bujaidar
  • S. Reyes-Cadena
  • I. Álvarez-González
  • L. Sánchez-Chapul
  • J. Pérez-Gallaga
  • N. Hernández
  • G. Flores-Mondragón
  • O. Velasco
Genotoxicity and Carcinogenicity
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Beta-sitosterol (BS) is a compound that has shown various activities potentially useful for human health. In the present study, we determined its antigenotoxic capacity and lymphocyte induction potential in mouse as well as its capacity to trap free radicals in vitro. BS, in doses from 200 to 1,000 mg/kg, was able to significantly reduce the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges induced by 10 mg/kg of doxorubicin (DX) in bone marrow cells. The same range of BS doses also gave rise to a strong reduction in the rate of micronucleated, polychromatic erythrocytes induced by DX. In addition, we determined an increase in the production of lymphocytes in mice administered with BS. By means of the DPPH assay, the compound was shown to trap free radicals in a concentration dependent manner as high as 78.12% using 250 μg/ml. Our research established three relevant biological activities of BS which show its potential as a chemopreventive agent.

Keywords

Beta-sitosterol Doxorubicin Antigenotoxicity Antioxidant 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • R. Paniagua-Pérez
    • 1
  • E. Madrigal-Bujaidar
    • 2
  • S. Reyes-Cadena
    • 1
  • I. Álvarez-González
    • 2
  • L. Sánchez-Chapul
    • 1
  • J. Pérez-Gallaga
    • 1
  • N. Hernández
    • 1
  • G. Flores-Mondragón
    • 1
  • O. Velasco
    • 1
  1. 1.Laboratorio de Bioquímica MuscularInstituto Nacional de RehabilitaciónMexico, D.F.Mexico
  2. 2.Laboratorio de GenéticaEscuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, I.P.N.Mexico, D.F.Mexico

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