Antigenotoxic properties of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. highlight its potential to mitigate oxidative stress-related damage

Long-term exposure to dietary xenobiotics can induce oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract, possibly causing DNA damage and contributing to the initiation of carcinogenesis. Halophytes are exposed to constant abiotic stresses, which are believed to promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites like polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. (PME), which can represent a dietary source of bioactive compounds with potential to attenuate oxidative stress-related damage. The PME exhibited a high antioxidant potential, revealed by the in vitro capacity to scavenge the free radical DPPH (IC50 = 2.29 ± 0.10 μg/mL) and the improved viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under oxidative stress (p < 0.001, 10 min). An antigenotoxic effect of PME against H2O2-induced oxidative stress was found in S. cerevisiae (p < 0.05) with the dominant deletion assay. In vitro colorimetric assays and LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis showed that PME is a polyphenol-rich extract composed of catechin, (epi)catechin dimer and trimers, quercetin and myricetin glycosides. Hence, P. maritimum is a source of antioxidant and antigenotoxic metabolites for application in industries that develop products to provide health benefits.

D. Oliveira acknowledges the fnancial support provided by national funds through FCT – Portuguese Founda tion for Science and Technology (PD/BD/135329/2017), under the PhD AgriChains (PD/00122/2012) and from the European Social Funds and the Regional Operational Programme Norte 2020. Tis study was also supported by the research units CITAB (UIDB/04033/2020) and CBMA (UIDB/04050/2020). L. Custódio acknowledges FCT for the UIDB/04326/2020 and PTDC/BAA-AGR/1391/2020 projects, and Scientifc Employment Stimulus (CEECIND/00425/2017). Te authors are also grateful to FCT (Portugal) for fnancial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); National funding by FCT, P.I., through the individual scien tifc employment program-contract for M.I. Dias and L. Barros contracts