Abstract
The present study investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of mussel extracts in human peripheral lymphocytes. The mussels were obtained from three sites in Red Sea coasts of the KSA. The sampling areas receive industrial effluents with different degrees of contamination. The study was performed using two mutagenic biomarkers: the micronucleus test (MN test) and the Halo test (apoptotic frequency). After 72h of exposure to five mussel extract doses, significant dose-dependent relationships were observed. The predominant effects registered were the induction of MN, the increase in cell apoptosis frequencies and the decrease in cell division rates. The MN mean frequencies and apoptosis frequencies registered ranged from 4 to 67% and from 2 to 42%, respectively. The mussel extracts collected from the industrial area induced significant genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes even with a low dose (100 mu L). This result might suggest the presence of potentially mutagenic substances in this area.