Ochratoxin A-induced DNA damage in human fibroblast: protective effect of cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside

The addition of OTA at 25 and 50 μM concentrations for 48 h determined only a slight but significant (P<.05) increase in radical oxygen species, whereas a substantial increase in their production was observed at longer exposure, in particular, when the fibroblasts were treated with 50 μM OTA for 72 h. Under the same experimental conditions, our data showed a significant (P<.05) increase in the rupture of cellular membrane and high damage to genomic DNA, evaluated by single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay), thus confirming the involvement of oxidative stress in the OTA genotoxicity in agreement with other studies. Diversely, mitochondrial functionality does not appear influenced by OTA treatment. C3G (0.125, 0.250 mM) added to the cells treated with 50 μM OTA significantly reduced free radical species production and prevented genomic DNA damage.