Polyphenols as possible bioprotectors against cytotoxicity and DNA damage induced by ochratoxin A

• Luteolin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid are abundant polyphenols in the plant kingdom.
• These polyphenols reduced the toxic effects induced by ochratoxin A on Vero cells and lymphocytes.
• These compounds reduced de DNA damage caused by ochratoxin A in blood and bone marrow cells of mice.
• Chlorogenic acid showed the best protective effects.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of luteolin (L), chlorogenic acid (ChlA) and caffeic acid (CafA) against cyto-genotoxic effects caused by OTA. Vero cells and rat lymphocytes were used and viability was measured by neutral red uptake, MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion method. L (50 and 100 μg/mL), ChlA (100 and 200 μg/mL) and CafA (10–50 μg/mL) reduced the damage induced by OTA (10 μg/mL) on both cells type shown a good protective effect. The comet and micronucleus tests in Balb/c mice were performed. ChlA (10 mg/kg bw) reduced OTA (0.85 mg/kg bw)-induced DNA damage on blood and bone marrow cells, CafA (10 mg/kg bw) showed protective effect only in blood cells and luteolin (2.5 mg/kg bw) failed to protect DNA integrity on cells. In conclusion, polyphenols tested reduced the toxicity caused by OTA on different target cells with good protective effect, being ChlA the compound that showed the best effects.