Chemopreventive effect of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) against cisplatin-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage as shown by the comet assay in peripheral blood of rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of bilberry on cisplatin induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in rat blood. Twenty-one female Wistar-Albino rats were divided into three groups: group I - untreated; group II - treated with cisplatin (single dose 7.5 mg/kg b.w.); and group III - treated with cisplatin (single dose 7.5 mg/kg b.w.) and bilberry (200 mg/kg b.w. for 10 days). Antioxidant enzyme systems including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) that might occur on erythrocytes have been determined and single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) was utilized to evaluate the DNA damage in lymphocytes. Treatment with cisplatin has increased the levels of MDA and decreased antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes. Comet assay showed significantly higher values at dose of 7.5 mg/kg cisplatin as the result of oxidative DNA damage when compared to the control group. Cisplatin treatment with bilberry resulted in a highly significant (P < 0.05) decreased in the lymphocytes DNA when compared to the cisplatin group. Bilberry has been effective on antioxidant enzyme systems and MDA level and significantly decreased the comets. Our results indicate that bilberry is capable of preventing genotoxic and cytotoxic damage caused by cisplatin in peripheral blood cells in rats.