Fern spore extracts can damage DNA
2000
Fern Spores Can Damage DNA
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Simán S E, Povey A C, Ward T H, Margison G P, Sheffield E
Primary Institution: Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital, Manchester
Hypothesis
Can fern spores cause DNA damage in human cells?
Conclusion
Fern spore extracts can cause DNA damage in human cells in vitro.
Supporting Evidence
- Spore extracts from five fern species induced significantly more DNA strand breaks than control groups.
- Only one species showed no difference in effect compared to control groups.
- Increasing the dose of certain spore extracts increased DNA damage.
- Highest levels of strand breaks appeared after 2 hours of exposure.
Takeaway
Fern spores can hurt DNA, which might be bad for our health.
Methodology
The single-cell gel electrophoresis (‘comet’) assay was used to investigate DNA damage in cultured human premyeloid leukaemia cells.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website