In vitro methods investigation of genotoxic and antinotoxic effects of breast milk on human peripheral lymphocytes

Breast milk is a complex compound containing more than 200 water and fat soluble substances. Almost 90% of its composition is water. Breast milk is a living liquid that contains various chemical components such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids and many cellular components such as macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and epithelial cells, and thanks to this superiority, it can meet all nutritional needs of babies during the first six months. Nutrients distributed in different ways in the mother's milk environment; It has bacteriostatic, immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, growth and digestive effects. In this thesis, the possible genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of mature breast milk, which is a dynamic biological system, were investigated in vitro in human peripheral lymphocytes with CBMN (Cytokinesis Blocking Micronucleus) Test, Comet (Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis) Method and HPRT (Hipoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase) Gene Mutation Test. Antigenoxic effects were investigated in order to reveal the potential to reduce the genotoxic effects caused by known mutagens (Mitomycin C, Hydrogen peroxide and Methyl Methane Sulfanate) by breast milk. As a result of this thesis, it was concluded that although breast milk does not have a significant genotoxic (clastogenic/mutagenic) effect according to the three test methods applied, it may have an antigenotoxic activity that protects against substances with known clastogenic/mutagenic effects and suppresses the genotoxic effect, especially in CBMN and Comet tests.