DNA in a human cell is subjected to constant assault from both environmental factors and normal metabolic processes. Accumulation of DNA damage drives the progression of many health disorders like aging, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. The present study focuses on the isolation of phenolic compound from the fruit of Terminalia chebula and its protective role on induced DNA damage. Diethyl ether and ethyl acetate extract of Terminalia chebula fruit were subjected to column chromatographic purification, and the fractions obtained were tested for the presence of phenolics. Fraction-12 isolated from diethyl ether extract was identified as gallic acid, which is used for cytotoxic and DNA damage protection activity assays. To select a non-toxic concentration of isolated compound, cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay. Gallic acid showed moderate toxicity at the highest concentration tested (i.e., percentage cell viability at 100 μg/ml is 40.51 ± 1.31). Antigenotoxic effect of gallic acid on HeLa cells was carried by alkaline comet assay. The compound showed significant protective abilities against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in HeLa cells. These results show the importance of gallic acid isolated from Terminalia chebula fruit, as protector of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage.

中文翻译：

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从榄仁树果实中分离的酚类化合物对 HeLa 细胞的细胞毒性和抗原毒性特性

人体细胞中的 DNA 不断受到环境因素和正常代谢过程的攻击。DNA 损伤的积累推动了许多健康疾病的进展，如衰老、癌症、糖尿病和神经退行性疾病。本研究的重点是从 Terminalia chebula 果实中分离酚类化合物及其对诱导的 DNA 损伤的保护作用。对榄仁树果实的乙醚和乙酸乙酯提取物进行柱色谱纯化，并测试所得馏分中酚类物质的存在。从乙醚提取物中分离的馏分 12 被鉴定为没食子酸，用于细胞毒性和 DNA 损伤保护活性测定。为了选择无毒浓度的分离化合物，通过 MTT 测定评估细胞毒性。没食子酸在测试的最高浓度下表现出中等毒性（即，100 μg/ml 时的细胞活力百分比为 40.51 ± 1.31）。碱性彗星试验表明没食子酸对HeLa细胞的抗基因毒性作用。该化合物对 HeLa 细胞中过氧化氢诱导的 DNA 损伤显示出显着的保护能力。这些结果表明从 Terminalia chebula 果实中分离的没食子酸作为氧化应激诱导的 DNA 损伤的保护剂的重要性。