Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of retinol and alfa tokoferol

In this study, in vitro genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of retinol (vitamin A) and alfa tokoferol (vitamin E) against MMS and H2O2 induced genotoxicity were investigated by using chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), micronuclei (MN) and comet assay. Retinol and alfa tokoferol alone did not induce significant genotoxic hazard in CA, MN and comet assays. However, they both induced genotoxic effect in significant level in SCE assay. It is showed that both antitumoral agent MMS and free radical inducer H2O2 were genotoxic in four different test sytems. In CA test, when they were used togehter with mutagens, while alfa tokoferol showed anticlastogenic effect, retinol did not. Both antioxidants showed antimutagenic effect in SCE test. In MN assay, retinol caused significant antigenotoxic effects, however, alfa tokoferol did not show significant effect. In Comet assay, lower concentrations of retinol ve alfa tokoferol have protective effect in primer DNA damage whereas they increased DNA damage in higher concentrations. In addition, both antioxidants have antimitotic effect.