Protective role of chlorogenic acid on DNA damage caused by ochratoxin A exposure

Chlorogenic acid (ChlA) has shown short-term protective effects against the cyto-genotoxic effects of ochratoxin A (OTA). The present study evaluated the effect of oral administration of ChlA in male Wistar rats exposed to OTA. OTA (0.4 mg/kg bw/day), ChlA (5 mg/kg bw/day), or the combination of both, were administered orally to animals during 28 days. No deaths, decrease in feed consumption or change in the body weight of animals were observed in any group. In the OTA-treated group a decrease in locomotion as well as increased DNA damage in blood, kidney and bone marrow cells were observed. ChlA alone was not genotoxic for animals. The combination of OTA+ChlA decreased the DNA damage by 37% in blood cells, by 55% in kidney cells and by 80% in bone marrow cells compared to OTA-treated group. In conclusion, oral treatment with ChlA showed a good protective effect on genotoxicity produced by OTA in rats during 28 days exposure.