Quantitative analysis of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-diolepoxide-DNA adducts in benzo[a]pyrene induced mice by the protection of lemongrass essential oil

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a well-known carcinogen present in the environment. In this paper, we developed a method for determining the B[a]P intermediate metabolites, 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene(3-OHB[a]P) and (+)-anti-benzo(a)pyrene diolepoxide-DNA adducts (BPDE-DNA) in the plasma, blood, brain and lung tissues of B[a]P-induced mice using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Besides, the protective effects of lemongrass essential oil (LEO) against B[a]P-induced mice damage were investigated using the developed method. SPF mice were randomly divided into 8 groups, dosed 50 mg kg−1 b.w. B[a]P of body weight, and each was fed 0.2 mL every week. LEO was in three concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25% aqueous solutions, inhaled for 30 min every day. After B[a]P exposure for 3 months, specimens from the plasma, blood, lung tissues and brain tissues were collected, extracted, and 3-OHB[a]P and benzo[a]pyrene-tetrol I-1 (B[a]P-tetrol I-1) completely released after acid hydrolysis and the (+)-anti-BPDE-DNA in the samples was measured. The calibration curves were linear (R2 > 0.9958). Intra-and inter-day assay data suggested that the method was accurate and precise. The recoveries and stability were stable under all conditions investigated. After the protection of LEO, the level of 3-OHB[a]P also increased and the level of (+)-anti-BPDE-DNA decreased in the plasma, blood, brain and lung tissues of B[a]P-induced mice. Our paper provides a simple, sensitive, reliable, rapid and low-cost method for the determination of 3-OHB[a]P and (+)-anti-BPDE-DNA in the samples of B[a]P-induced mice by the protection of LEO. The LEO had the effects of protecting damage induced by B[a]P in mice.