Antioxidant and genoprotective effects of osthole against cadmium-induced DNA damage: an in vitro study using comet assay

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osthole, a plant-derived coumarin, has shown numerous pharmacological effects. However, its genoprotective effects against cadmium-induced DNA damage have not been determined yet. Therefore, this project aimed to assess the effectiveness of osthole against genotoxicity caused by cadmium. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: For this purpose, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with various concentrations of osthole (40, 60, 80, and 120 µM) 24 h before cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) treatment (40 µM), and then DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay. Furthermore, DPPH and free thiol group assays were applied to evaluate reactive oxygen species scavenger and antioxidant capacities of osthole. FINDINGS / RESULTS: In the present study, all concentrations of osthole significantly decreased CdCl(2)-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of the osthole were confirmed by DPPH and free thiol assays. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Overall, the findings of this project revealed that osthole could ameliorate cadmium-induced genotoxicity probably by its antioxidant activity.