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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Electroeluting DNA Fragments
Published on: September 5, 2010
The protective effect exerted by ascorbic acid on DNA fragmentation of human leukocytes induced by Lachesis muta muta
Marcus Vinícius Cardoso Trento1, Mateus William de Faria Eleutério1, Tatiane Silva Abreu1
1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Campus UFLA, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of the toxins present in Lachesis muta muta's venom on human peripheral blood leukocytes and the protective potential of ascorbic acid on DNA fragmentation. The venom of L. muta muta was incubated in different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 120 µg/mL) with human blood to evaluate DNA fragmentation using the comet, agarose gel electrophoresis, and micronucleus assays. In these concentrations evaluated, the venom of L. muta muta induced genotoxicity (comet assay and agarose gel electrophoresis) and mutagenicity (micronucleus test), but they were not cytotoxic, as they did not change the rate of cell proliferation after cytokinesis blockade with cytochalasin B. The ascorbic acid significantly inhibited the genotoxicity induced by L. muta muta venom in the proportions evaluated (1:0.1 and 1:0.5, venom/ascorbic acid - w/w). Thus, future studies are needed to elucidate the protective mechanisms of ascorbic acid on the genotoxic effects induced by toxins present in snake venoms.
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