DNA damage in mouse lymphocytes exposed to curcumin and copper

Dietary polyphenolics. such as curcumin. have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Some antioxidants cause DNA strand breaks in excess of transition metal ions, such as copper. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of curcumin in the presence of increasing concentrations of copper to induce DNA damage in murine leukocytes by the comet assay. Balb-C mouse lymphocytes were exposed to 50 ?M curcumin and various concentrations of copper (10 ?M, 100 ?M and 200 ?M). Cellular DNA damage was detected by means of the alkaline comet assay. Our results show that 50 ?M curcumin in the presence of 100-200 ?M copper induced DNA damage in murine lymphocytes. Curcumin did not inhibit the oxidative DNA damage caused by 50 ?M H 2O2 in mouse lymphocytes. Moreover, 50 ?M curcumin alone was capable of inducing DNA strand breaks under the tested conditions. The increased DNA damage by 50 ?M curcumin was observed in the presence of various concentrations of copper, as detected by the alkaline comet assay