Chemical and biological studies of β-carotene after exposure to Cannabis sativa smoke

Publication date: Available online 3 June 2016 Source:Toxicology Reports Author(s): Dulciana S. do Monte, Jonh A. Bezerra Tenório, Isla V.G.A. Bastos, Fábio de S. Mendonça, Joaquim E. Neto, Teresinha G. da Silva, Clécio S. Ramos Considering the increase in consumption of Cannabis sativa and the use of the compound β-carotene (BC) as supplement, we investigated potential changes in the chemical and biological proprieties of BC after exposure to C. sativa smoke (CSS). Our results showed that the BC exposed to CSS underwent 98.8% degradation and suffered loss of its antiradical activity. The major degradation products identified were 3-hydroxy-2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)2-methylpropanoate and (2-ethyl-3-hydroxyhexyl)2-methylpropanoate compounds. These are found in higher levels in the exhalations of colorectal cancer patients and are similar to the toxic products associated with lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In toxicological assays using micro-crustacean Artemia salina the BC was non-toxic, while the BC degraded by CSS had a toxicity of LC50 =397.35μg/mL. In Wistar rats, females treated with BC degraded by CSS (BCCSS) showed whitish liver spots, alterations in liver weight and in bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels, and decrease in the number of leukocytes associated with atypical lymphocytosis. In male rats, there was an increase in the number of leukocytes when compared to the control group. In the histopathological analysis, the c...
Source: Toxicology Reports - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research