Measurement of DNA damage and protein oxidation after the incubation of B14 Chinese hamster cells with chosen polyphenols

The spectrophotometric method with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) were used to assess the possibility of three polyphenolic compounds (tannic, ellagic and gallic acid) to induce the changes in proteins and DNA. B14 Chinese hamster cells were exposed to various concentrations of used polyphenols (1-60 μM), hydrogen peroxide (10 and 40 μM) copper ions (50 μM), and the effect of phenols alone and in combination with Cu2+ ions and H2O2 was determined. The results reveal that polyphenolic acids in higher concentrations than 1 μM contribute to the changes in the tested molecules and cause protein and DNA damage. The combined treatment of polyphenols with Cu2+ ions and with H2O2 demonstrates that the lowest dose of phenols (1 μM) can act as an antioxidant agent against used chemicals. The DNA repair process was also studied. The data obtained in this experiment demonstrate that the most effective DNA repair occurs 1 h after the removal of phenolic compounds. The used methods and obtained results provide additional information about the potential use of these phenols not only as antioxidants but also as pro-oxidants in biological systems.