Background

Fluoroquinolones were first introduced in the late 1970s, and since then, they have been successfully used as therapeutic agents. These antibiotics have a wide bactericidal spectrum against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, and even Mycobacterium. They have useful pharmacokinetic properties, achieve high tissue and serum levels, and have chemical and biological stability. Several fluoroquinolones have been developed, and many derivates have been synthesized to improve bactericidal and metabolic properties. Unfortunately, these structural changes have resulted in an increase in toxic and genotoxic effects [1].

Norfloxacin is one of the most frequently employed fluoroquinolones against urinary infections, pyelitis, cystopyelitis, epididymitis, prostatitis, pharyngitis caused by β-lactamase resistant bacteria, and gastric infections. Nevertheless, it has been reported that fluoroquinolones are photomutages that are able to absorb UV light with a potential energy or electron transfer, which can induce DNA damage [2]. Other studies have shown that less bactericidal doses of norfloxacin induce mutations in S. typhimurium TA102 and TA104 strains, but do not induce genotoxic mutations in the E. coli Pol A-/PolA+ system [3].

Fluoroquinolone-induced oxidative damage may be inhibited by antioxidant compounds. In several short genotoxic test systems, Krizkova et al [4]. have inhibited ofloxacin mutagenesis of Euglena gracilis, by using phenolic compounds like caffeic acid and ferulic acid. The oxidative DNA damage in S. thyphimurium TA1O2 induced by norfloxacin is inhibited by β-carotene metabolites or naturally occurring extracts from plants such as Roheo discolor[4, 5]. These data provide evidence that norfloxacin is an ROS-generating drug. ROS are known to be a major cause of cancer, aging and many other degenerative diseases. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid or reduce their use, or to propose alternative DNA-damage reduction methods [6].

On the other hand, fluoroquinolones, such as norfloxacin, are extremely useful therapeutic drugs, whose use cannot be avoided, despite them being ROS generators, if a risk-benefit analysis is carefully done. Consumption of a diet rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins, which are required as micronutrients in the human diet, is perhaps a good alternative to improve health and reduce the risks associated with ROS exposure [7].

The purposes of this study were to evaluate combination therapy with norfloxacin and vitamins C and E, to reduce the possible genotoxic risk associated with fluoroquinolones.

Methods

Reagents and strains

Norfloxacin was kindly donated by Aplicaciones Farmacéuticas, S.A. México (CAS No. 70458-96-7). This antibiotic was tested as a chemically pure salt, as it is used in commercial preparations. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate; CAS No. 7695-91-2) was kindly donated by Productos Roche, S.A. de C.V., Mexico, D:F., México Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid sodium salt; CAS No. 50-81-7), ampicillin, tetracycline, D-biotin, glucose 6-phosphate (G6P), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), mitomycin-C, 2-amino-antracene (2AA), DMSO and L-histidine were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA). Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate was prepared as described by Maron and Ames [8]. Dr. B.N. Ames, University of California (Berkeley, CA, USA) kindly donated S. typhimurium TA102. Uropathogenic strains of E. coli were obtained from patients with symptomatic urinary infections [9].

Mutagenicity assays

S. typhimurium TA102 overnight cultures were prepared on nutrient broth (Oxoid No. 2) in a water-shaking bath at 37°C. One hundred microliters of this culture were exposed to 7–700 ng norfloxacin per Petri dish, or to mitomycin-C (20 ng per Petri dish) or 2AA (10 μg per Petri dish) as positive controls, and poured into screw-top sterile tubes. Assays were performed with 500 μl of the S9 mixture of aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate. Tubes were incubated for 60 min at 37°C and 90 rpm in a shaking water. Two milliliters of soft agar was added as described by Maron and Ames [8]. Then, 2.0 ml soft agar was added, along with 0.05 mM histidine, vortexed, and plated on Vogel Bonner plates. Histidine revertants (His+) were counted in a Fisher colony counter after incubation for 48 h at 37°C.

Antimutagenicity assays

Each culture was exposed to different doses of norfloxacin, as described above, and 100 or 1000 μg per Petri dish of Vitamin C dissolved in distilled water. α-Tocopherol acetate was mixed in ethylene glycol at 500 and 1000 μg per Petri dish. Assays were performed with 500 μl of the S9 mixture of aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate, as described by Maron and Ames [8]. All tube contents were treated as described above.

Statistical analysis

The means and SE were calculated using standard procedures. The statistical significance of differences between group means was evaluated by ANOVA Bonferroni test, taking a probability of 0.05% as the criterion of significance. All values reported are the mean ± SE.

In vitro bactericidal activity

Dilutions of norfloxacin were prepared from a stock solution containing 64 μg/ml norfloxacin in 0.01 N NaOH (0.05–32 μg/ml). One milliliter of these solutions, with or without vitamins were poured onto sterile Petri dishes, and 9.0 ml Muller-Hinton agar at 45°C was added and gently mixed. Plates were allowed to dry at room temperature overnight. Uropathogenic E. coli strains were cultured on Mc Conkey agar and suspensions were adjusted in a Mc Farland 0.5 tube and then diluted 1:10. The final strain dilution that was deposited on a Steers replicator was 104 cfu. Norfloxacin plates, with or without vitamins C or E, were inoculated with microcolonies of S. thyphimurium TA1O2. Controls of Muller Hinton plate were also scored. All plates were incubated at 37°C for 18 h and the number of resistant strains was evaluated, with or without vitamins C or E. [10].

Results

In vitro bactericidal activity testing against 25 different uropathogenic strains obtained from symptomatic pregnant women showed that 22 strains (88.0%) were sensitive to norfloxacin, as it is expressed by the National Commitee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) [10]. whereas the other three (12%) isolates were resistant to norfloxacin. The addition of vitamins C or E did not change the observed sensitivity or resistance pattern.

The observed mutagenicity of norfloxacin on S. typhimurium TA102 was similar to that reported previously, employing the preincubation Ames test with Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver homogenate [10]. This mutagenic effect was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by Vitamin C from 2457 ± 181 to 1967 ± 79 His+ Revertans for 100 μg when 7 ng of norfloxacine was utilized, the same effect was obtained with 1000 μg of Vitamin C as shown in Fig. 1. Vitamin E (500 μg per Petri dish) induced a significant reduction (P < 0.001) of the induced revertants (Fig. 2)

Figure 1
figure 1

Antimutagenesis of vitamin C against mutation induced by norfloxacin in S. typhimurium TA102. Data are the mean ± SE (n = 9) * p < 0.01 vs control of each group ofnorfloxanin concentration. The antimutagenic effect of vitamin C at 1000 μg/Petri dish, was significantly (2457 ± 181 to 2070 ± 86 His+ Revertants) utilizing 7.0 ng/norfloxacin. The value is 16.74% lesser than the control.

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Figure 2
figure 2

Antioxidant effect of Vitamin E as an inhibitor of mutagenesis induced by norfloxacin in S. typhimurium TA102. Data are the mean ± SE (n = 9) * p < 0.001 vs control of each group of norfloxanin concentration. The antimutagenic effect of vitamin E at 1000 μg/Petri utilizing 7.0 ng/norfloxacin, was significantly (1997 ± 36 to 911 ± 38 His+ Revertants). The value is 54.4% lesser than the control.

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Discussion

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics present a good therapeutic option for several infectious diseases [1]. Therefore, despite the fact that fluoroquinolones are oxygen free radical generators and are photo-genotoxic chemicals; it is not advisable to avoid their use. Antimutagens are a good alternative for reducing the genotoxic risk of fluoroquinolones. Some natural compounds, such as caffeic, gentisic and ferulic acids, have been shown to act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by the fluoroquinolone ofloxacin [11]. Meanwhile, the use of vitamins is strongly advised with prescribed antibiotics, to reduce DNA damage, as long as they do not reduce the bactericidal potency of the antibiotics [7]. Vitamin C, 80 mg daily (1 mg/dl) is essential for an adequate interaction between tissues and folate metabolism, and is essential for prevention of scurvy. Vitamin E is the most important hydrophobic antioxidant, protecting biological molecules like DNA, proteins and lipids against ROS, with a useful dose of 10 mg daily (4–20 mg/dl) [12].

In the present study, less than the recommended daily dose (100 μg) of the vitamins was evaluated because of the hydrophobic properties of the vitamins. Vitamin E was shown to be a potent antimutagen against mutation induced by norfloxacin, because of its antioxidant properties. In fact, 500 μg of vitamin E was able to reduce the mutagenicity of norfloxacin. This result is in accordance with those of Drisko et al[13], who have recommended the use of Vitamin E to increase the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer, and the results of Ames [7], who have suggested the use of vitamin B6 as an alternative to reduce radiation risk. Our results also show that vitamin E or C did not interfere with the MIC of norfloxacin against uropathogenic strains of E. coli. This may be because the DNA gyrase inhibition of norfloxacin is not dependent on ROS generation for its mutagenic effect, which can be inhibited by antioxidants [4].

The advantage of Vitamin C use as an antimutagen and antioxidant has been extensively studied in vitro and in vivo, and it has been shown to decrease chromosomal damage in vivo[14]. The recommended serum concentration of 1 mg of vitamin C did not significantly reduce the mutagenicity of norfloxacin. This result might be explained by the presence of cations in the distillated water, and the addition of Mg2+ and Ca2+ to the Cyp-450 (cytochrome P450) aroclor induced rat liver S9 mixture might induce a Fenton reaction [15]. Other studies, in accordance with our own, have also reported that Vitamin C, under the Ames test conditions, is not a good antioxidant against other potent mutagens, including fluoroquinolones such as nitrofurans and furazolidone. The antioxidant capacity of AA against fluoroquinolones might be evaluated under different physiological conditions, to establish its ability to reduce mutagenesis induced by these drugs.

Vitamins C or E did not modify the MIC patterns of norfloxacin against uropathogenic strains. Therefore, the simultaneous use of these vitamins with fluoroquinolone therapy is advisable to reduce the genotoxic risk of ROS generated by norfloxacin. Other studies have reported that antioxidants are able to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria, because oxygen free radicals generated by antibiotic metabolism may also be a major cause of antibiotic resistance development [16].

Conclusion

In conclusion, our results suggest that the studied vitamins due their potent antioxidant capacities that reduce norfloxacin-induced mutagenesis. As they do not interfere with the bactericidal activity of the antibiotics, they might by a good alternative to reduce genotoxic risk associated with norfloxacin therapy.