Auraptene from Ferula szowitsiana protects human peripheral lymphocytes against oxidative stress

The antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene on DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes were studied using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis. Auraptene at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microM was tested under simultaneous treatment with 25 microM H(2)O(2). The data are expressed as % tail DNA and compared with ascorbic acid at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microM. Auraptene significantly reduced the genotoxicity of H(2)O(2 )at concentrations higher than 25 microM (p < 0.001). Interestingly, the antigenotoxicity activity of auraptene was higher than ascorbic acid (p < 0.01), however, at some concentrations (25, 50 and 200 microM) there was no significant difference between auraptene and ascorbic acid (p > 0.05). It seems that the significant antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene may be due to the prenyl moiety and also the suppression of superoxide anion (O(2) (-)) generation. This study suggests that the antigenotoxic property of auraptene is of great pharmacological importance and might be beneficial for cancer prevention.