CAROTENOIDS REDUCE THE CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE-INDUCED BY BLEOMYCIN IN HUMAN CULTURED LYMPHOCYTES

The supplementation with beta-carotene and canthaxanthin, two caroteno ids with and without pro-vitamin A activity, reduced in vitro the numb er of micronuclei induced in human cultured lymphocytes by the chemoth erapeutic radiomimetic drug bleomycin. The genotoxic activity of this substance is supposed to be mediated by a free radical mechanism. The reduction of micronucleated cells was in correlation with donors' caro tenoid blood levels. It has been observed that 20 weeks are needed, fo llowing the end of carotenoid supplementation, in order to return to t he high levels of micronuclei induced by bleomycin. It is suggested th at this protective effect is due to the antioxidant properties of caro tenoids acting against free radical-mediated genotoxic damage.