Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of amygdalin in in vitro human lymphocytes

Amygdalin is a major component of the seeds of Rosaceae family of plants such as especially apricots, peaches, bitter almond, plum, and apple. It is used in alternative medicine due to its different pharmacological properties including cancer prevention, fever reducer and cough suppressant. In the present study, in vitro genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of Amygdalin have been evaluated in human peripheral lymphocytes in the absence and presence of metabolic activator (S9 mix). For this purpose, chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronucleus (MN), and comet assays were used. In experiments without S9 mix, the antigenotoxic activity of Amygdalin was investigated against the Mitomycin-C (MMC) and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using three antigenotoxicity protocols, pre-, simultaneous and post-treatment. The lymphocytes were treated with different concentrations of Amygdalin (0.68, 1.72, 3.43, 6.86, and 13.75 µg/mL) alone and in combination with MMC (0.20 µg/mL) and H2O2 (100 µM). In the presence of S9 mix, antigenotoxicity assessment was performed against Cyclophosphamide (CP) using a simultaneous treatment protocol. Amygdalin did not show genotoxic effects at all concentrations tested, both in the absence and presence of S9 mix. On the other hand, Amygdalin significantly decreased chromosomal aberrations (especially at 48h), frequencies of KKD and MN (except 0.86 μg/mL in pre- and simultaneous treatment) induced by MMC in all treatment types and all concentrations. In addition, Amygdalin significantly reduced CP-induced CA and SCE frequencies at all concentrations except the lowest concentration (0.86 μg/mL). Also, Amygdalin enhanced MI which was reduced by genotoxins (MMC and CP) but it did not significantly effect RI and NBI. In comet assay, Amygdalin significantly reduced oxidative DNA damage induced by H2O2 at all concentrations and all treatment types. The results demonstrated that Amygdalin exhibited antigenotoxic effects but not genotoxic effect in tested concentrations. Amygdalin exhibited chemopreventive activity against genotoxic agents that promote genomic damage in human lymphocytes in vitro.