Antigenotoxic capacity of beta-caryophyllene in mouse, and evaluation of its antioxidant and GST induction activities

The present report was designed to determine the antigenotoxic capacity of beta-caryophyllene (BC) on the damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in mouse. We found no genotoxic potential of BC, and a significant inhibitory effect on the number of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations induced by BaP. The three tested doses of the agent (20, 200, and 2,000 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent decrease of the two evaluated cytogenetic parameters. In comparison with the effect induced by BaP, the best inhibitory effect (about 80%) was obtained with the high tested dose of BC considering the two evaluated parameters. Other aim of the study was to explore whether in this effect participated the BC antioxidant capacity and/or its effect as inducer of GST activity. We found a dose-dependent decrease induced by BC in regard to both the oxidation of lipids and proteins produced by BaP. In the case of GST, when BC was administered alone we found a mean increase of 64% of the enzyme activity, respect to the control level, and when BC was administered in mice treated with BaP the increase obtained with the high dose of BC reached 27%. Therefore, our data established no in vivo genotoxicity by BC, and a significant antigenotoxic potential of the compound, which may be related with its capacity to block the molecular oxidation and to stimulate the GST activity.