Effect of quercetin on benzo[a]pyrene-induced DNA damage in mice

Objective To study the effect of quercetin on DNA damage induced to benzo[a]pyrene in mice.Methods Male and female ICR mice received one ip injection of benzo[a]pyrene(100?mg/kg),then were fed with quercetin at the doses of 0.5,1.0,2.0?g/(kg·d) for three months.The single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE) was used to study the DNA damage of mouse blood cell.Results Mice treated with benzo[a]pyrene had cometlength,whereas normal mice had no cometlength.After being treated with high,middle and low doses of quercetin for 3 months,the ratio of DNA damage and tail movement showed significant difference compared with the control( P 0 05),which showed significant dose-effect relationships.Conclusion Quercetin can prevent DNA damage from benzo[a]pyrene.