Evaluation of genotoxic and genoprotective effects of Agaricus bisporus extract on AmE-711 honey bee cell line in the Comet assay

Mushroom extracts have been shown to contain bioactive compounds that confer health benefits to humans and animals, including honey bees. Honey bees are often challenged simultaneously with several abiotic (e.g., pesticides and poor nutrition) and biotic (e.g., parasites and pathogens) stressors. Mushroom extracts, for example, those made from Agaricus bisporus, may hold the potential to mitigate the negative effects of these stressors through actions on the honey bee's immune system, metabolism, and other physiological processes. Exploring the health benefits of mushroom extracts for honey bees requires a basic understanding of their bioactive properties at the cellular level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, for the first time, the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of A. bisporus on the honey bee cell line AmE-711 using the comet assay. Three increasing concentrations of A. bisporus water extract (100, 200, and 400 mu g/mL) were tested. The cells in the negative control group were not treated either with A. bisporus extract or with H2O2. In the positive control group, DNA damage was induced with 100 mu M H2O2. For antigenotoxic effect, tested extracts were mixed and incubated with H2O2. None of the tested concentrations exerted genotoxic potential, but all showed antigenotoxic effects against H2O2-induced DNA damage. The concentration of 200 mu g/mL A. bisporus extract was the most effective in its action against DNA damage. To conclude, A. bisporus extract did not demonstrate genotoxic effects but showed promising antigenotoxic properties. AmE-711 cell line may serve as a cell culture system for genotoxicity investigations.