Genoprotective Effects of Quercetin against Genotoxic Damage in Peripheral Blood Cells of Healthy Individuals and Tuberculosis Patients

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and has long been one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Flavonoids are among the most thoroughly researched natural compounds found in plants. They have been widely recognized for their diverse medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anticancer. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties and have been shown to exert anti-pathogenic potential, but few studies have examined their effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. The aim of the current study was to investigate in vitro the protective effect of the flavonoid, quercetin on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) -induced oxidative DNA damage, using the Comet assay and the micronucleus (MN) test in peripheral lymphocytes from tuberculosis patients (TB) and compared with lymphocytes from healthy individuals. Quercetin significantly reduced DNA damage and reduction in the frequency of micronuclei in TB patient compared with healthy individuals. These findings show that the nano-quercetin has genoprotective and enzyme modulating effects and highlight its potential as a possible therapeutic supplement for TB patients.