Effects of soyasaponin I and soyasaponins-rich extract on the Alternariol-induced cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells

• Alternariol (AOH) is a food contaminant that produces cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells.
• Lentils rich in Soyasaponin I (Ss-I) present antioxidant properties.
• Ss-I and lentil extracts show cytoprotective effects against AOH on Caco-2 cells.
• Ss-I simultaneously exposed with AOH in Caco-2 cells showed synergistic effect.

Alternariol (AOH) is a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria spp. Soyasaponin I (Ss-I) is present naturally in legumes, and it has antioxidant properties. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of AOH have been demonstrated previously in vitro. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of AOH, Ss-I, and soyasaponins-rich extract from lentils was investigated; as well as, the cytoprotective effects of Ss-I and lentil extracts against AOH induced-cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. Cytotoxicity was carried out using MTT and PC assays (AOH: 3.125–100 µM, Ss-I: 3.125–50 µM, and lentil extracts: 1:0–1:32) during 24 h of exposure. Only AOH showed cytotoxic effect. The reduction in cell proliferation ranged from 25% to 47%. Simultaneous combination of Ss-I with AOH (1:1) increased cell proliferation (35%) compared to AOH tested alone. The Ss-I and extracts showed synergistic cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by AOH on Caco-2 cells. Food commodities containing Ss-I could contribute to diminish the toxicological risk that natural contaminant as AOH in diet can produce to humans.