Abstract

SOLER T, Wilmer; VELASQUEZ E, Nelly del Carmen; MIRANDA R, Luis Francisco  and  ZULUAGA G, Diana Cristina. Absence of genotoxicity of sea water from Coveñas: In vitro study on human leukocytes and erythrocytes. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.2, pp.25-30. ISSN 0120-386X.

In Latin America, Colombia included, the use of natural sea water has been recently introduced for nutritional and therapeutics purposes due to its high content of minerals and oligoelements. This practice has also been used in Europe during the last century. Objective: to evaluate potential toxicity in sea water from Coveñas (Colombian Atlantic coast). Methods: erythrocytes and leukocytes were incubated in sea water samples collected in Coveñas to evaluate osmotic fragility, viability, and DNA damage (by comet technique). Atioxidant properties of this water were additionally studied. Results: erythrocytes presented a higher index of hemolysis in sea water compared with phosphate buffer (PBS) with a similar hypertonic concentration (4,3% y 2,8% respectively, P=0,00001); however, median differences were very low. Lymphocytes viability Absence of genotoxicity of sea water from Coveñas: in vitro study on human leukocytes and erythrocytes in sea water was 95% after one hour of incubation at 4°C and it was similar to the percentage observed in isotonic PBS. Sea water did not cause damage on DNA as tested one hour after treatment of lymphocytes according to the "Olive moment" averages. Sea water did not present any pro-oxidant or antioxidant capacity as tested with the ABTS⁺ technique. Conclusions: these results suggest that sea water from this area in the Colombian Atlantic cast is bio-safe for human consumption but it is necessary to test concentrated organic fraction and determine in vivo toxic effects.

Keywords : Sea water; antioxidant activity; genotoxicity; comet assay.