Effect of quercetin on benzoapyrene-induced DNA damage in mice

  Objective   To study the effect of quercetin on DNA damage induced to benzoapyrene in mice.

  Methods   Male and female ICR mice received one ip injection of benzoapyrene(100 mg/kg), then were fed with quercetin at the doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/(kg·d)for three months. The single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE)was used to study the DNA damage of mouse blood cell.

  Results   Mice treated with benzoapyrene had cometlength, whereas normal mice had no cometlength. After being treated with high, middle and low doses of quercetin for 3 months, the ratio of DNA damage and tail movement showed significant difference compared with the control (P < 0.05), which showed significant dose-effect relationships.

  Conclusion   Quercetin can prevent DNA damage from benzoapyrene.