Drug Safety & Toxicology

stetoskop i närbild

Description

Our research group focuses on mechanisms of action behind various types of negative health effects caused by xenobiotics. We are also developing methods to better identify different types of toxic effects at the cellular level. We then focus on the following areas: Genetic toxicology, Reproductive toxicology, Neurotoxicology and In vitro bioassays for environmental toxicity testing. The goal is to contribute knowledge that leads to improved toxicological risk assessments. Research group leader is professor Björn Hellman. Other members of the group are professor emeritus Lennart Dencker, professor emerita Eva Brittebo, senior lecturer Faranak Azarbayjani, senior lecturer Malin Andersson, lecturer Sonja Buratovic, lecturer Diana-Ioana Lupu and postdoc Erik Bivehed. Associate professor Oskar Karlsson (https://karlssonlab.se/) and senior lecturer Sebastian Lungu-Mitea are affiliated as visiting researchers and Azim Ullah Shamsul Islam conduct research at UAEU as an external doctoral student. Since Hellman will retire at the turn of 2024/2025, his successor as research group leader and professor is now being recruited.

Genetic Toxicology

In vitro bioassays

Neurotoxicology

Reproduction toxicology and childhood cancer

Publications

Screening for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Sri Lankan marine sponges through microfractionation: Isolation of bromopyrrole alkaloids from Stylissa massa

Kosgahakumbura, Lakmini; Gamage, Jayani; Robertson, Luke; Muhammad, Taj et al.

Part of PLOS ONE, 2024
- DOI for Screening for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Sri Lankan marine sponges through microfractionation: Isolation of bromopyrrole alkaloids from Stylissa massa
- Download full text (pdf) of Screening for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Sri Lankan marine sponges through microfractionation: Isolation of bromopyrrole alkaloids from Stylissa massa
Myrcene Attenuates Renal Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in the Adrenalectomized Rat Model

Islam, Azim Ullah Shamsul; Hellman, Björn; Nyberg, Fred; Amir, Naheed et al.

Part of Molecules, 2020
- DOI for Myrcene Attenuates Renal Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in the Adrenalectomized Rat Model
- Download full text (pdf) of Myrcene Attenuates Renal Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in the Adrenalectomized Rat Model
Pharmacokinetics in Mouse and Comparative Effects of Frondosides in Pancreatic Cancer

Al Shemaili, Jasem; Parekh, Khatija A.; Newman, Robert A.; Hellman, Björn et al.

Part of Marine Drugs, 2016
- DOI for Pharmacokinetics in Mouse and Comparative Effects of Frondosides in Pancreatic Cancer
- Download full text (pdf) of Pharmacokinetics in Mouse and Comparative Effects of Frondosides in Pancreatic Cancer
Visualizing DNA single- and double-strand breaks in the Flash comet assay by DNA polymerase-assisted end-labelling

Bivehed, Erik; Hellman, Björn; Wenson, Leonie; Stenerlöw, Bo et al.

Part of Nucleic Acids Research, 2024
- DOI for Visualizing DNA single- and double-strand breaks in the Flash comet assay by DNA polymerase-assisted end-labelling
- Download full text (pdf) of Visualizing DNA single- and double-strand breaks in the Flash comet assay by DNA polymerase-assisted end-labelling
Genotoxicity study of Ethiopian medicinal plant extracts on HepG2 cells

Kahaliw, Wubayehu; Hellman, Björn; Engidawork, Ephrem

Part of BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
- DOI for Genotoxicity study of Ethiopian medicinal plant extracts on HepG2 cells
- Download full text (pdf) of Genotoxicity study of Ethiopian medicinal plant extracts on HepG2 cells
DNA integrity under alkaline conditions: An investigation of factors affecting the comet assay

Bivehed, Erik; Hellman, Björn; Fan, Yuting; Haglöf, Jakob et al.

Part of Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis, 2023
- DOI for DNA integrity under alkaline conditions: An investigation of factors affecting the comet assay
- Download full text (pdf) of DNA integrity under alkaline conditions: An investigation of factors affecting the comet assay
Evaluation of Potential DNA-Damaging Effects of Nitenpyram and Imidacloprid in Human U937-Cells Using a New Statistical Approach to Analyse Comet Data

Bivehed, Erik; Gustafsson, Anton; Berglund, Anders; Hellman, Björn

Part of Exposure and Health, p. 547-554, 2020
- DOI for Evaluation of Potential DNA-Damaging Effects of Nitenpyram and Imidacloprid in Human U937-Cells Using a New Statistical Approach to Analyse Comet Data
- Download full text (pdf) of Evaluation of Potential DNA-Damaging Effects of Nitenpyram and Imidacloprid in Human U937-Cells Using a New Statistical Approach to Analyse Comet Data
Flash-comet: Significantly improved speed and sensitivity of the comet assay through the introduction of lithium-based solutions and a more gentle lysis

Bivehed, Erik; Söderberg, Ola; Hellman, Björn

Part of Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis, 2020
- DOI for Flash-comet: Significantly improved speed and sensitivity of the comet assay through the introduction of lithium-based solutions and a more gentle lysis
An in vitro Study on the DNA Damaging Effects of Phytochemicals Partially Isolated from an Extract of Glinus lotoides

Demma, Jemal; El-Seedi, Hesham; Engidawork, Ephrem; Aboye, Teshome Leta et al.

Part of Phytotherapy Research, p. 507-514, 2013
- DOI for An in vitro Study on the DNA Damaging Effects of Phytochemicals Partially Isolated from an Extract of Glinus lotoides
Low levels of the air pollutant 1-nitropyrene induce DNA damage, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress in human endothelial cells

Andersson, Helén; Piras, Elena; Demma, Jemal; Hellman, Björn et al.

Part of Toxicology, p. 57-64, 2009
- DOI for Low levels of the air pollutant 1-nitropyrene induce DNA damage, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress in human endothelial cells
An analysis of Vigimed, a global E-mail system for the exchange of pharmacovigilance information

Johansson, K; Olsson, S; Hellman, Björn; Meyboom, RHB

Part of Drug Safety, p. 883-889, 2007
Flash-comet assay

Bivehed, Erik; Hellman, Björn

Part of MethodsX, 2020
- DOI for Flash-comet assay
- Download full text (pdf) of Flash-comet assay
In vitro bioanalysis of drinking water from source to tap

Rosenmai, Anna Kjerstine; Lundqvist, Johan; le Godec, Theo; Ohisson, Asa et al.

Part of Water Research, p. 272-280, 2018
- DOI for In vitro bioanalysis of drinking water from source to tap
A bioactivity-guided screening of Sri Lankan plants in the search for novel antibacterial and anticancer agents

Mohotti, S.; Rajendran, S.; Muhammad, Taj; Strömstedt, Adam A. et al.

Part of Planta Medica, 2016
- DOI for A bioactivity-guided screening of Sri Lankan plants in the search for novel antibacterial and anticancer agents
Evaluation of catechol-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes: A comparison between freshly isolated lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes from extended-term cultures

Andersson, Maria; Hellman, Björn

Part of Toxicology in Vitro, p. 716-722, 2007
- DOI for Evaluation of catechol-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes: A comparison between freshly isolated lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes from extended-term cultures
Genotoxicity of plumbagin and its effects on catechol and NQNO-induced DNA damage in mouse lymphoma cells

Demma, Jemal; Hallberg, Karl; Hellman, Björn

Part of Toxicology in Vitro, p. 266-271, 2009
- DOI for Genotoxicity of plumbagin and its effects on catechol and NQNO-induced DNA damage in mouse lymphoma cells
Potential genotoxicity of plant extracts used in Ethiopian traditional medicine

Demma, Jemal; Engidawork, E; Hellman, Björn

Part of Journal of Ethnopharmacology, p. 136-142, 2009
- DOI for Potential genotoxicity of plant extracts used in Ethiopian traditional medicine
Interindividual differences in initial DNA repair capacity when evaluating H2O2-induced DNA damage in extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes using the comet assay

Andersson, Maria; Stenqvist, Per; Hellman, Björn

Part of Cell Biology and Toxicology, p. 401-411, 2007
- DOI for Interindividual differences in initial DNA repair capacity when evaluating H2O2-induced DNA damage in extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes using the comet assay
Evaluation of α-tocopherols effect on catechol and o-phenylenediamine induced DNA damage: An in vitro study using two different staining techniques in the comet assay

Åsgård, Rikard; Håkansson, Sofia; Lundin, Rickard; Hellman, Björn
Fungicide prochloraz induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in vitro

Lundqvist, J.; Hellman, Björn; Oskarsson, A.

Part of Food and Chemical Toxicology, p. 36-41, 2016
- DOI for Fungicide prochloraz induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in vitro
Genotoxicity and Cellular Uptake of Cyclotides: Evidence for Multiple Mode of Action

Yeshak, Mariamawit Y; Göransson, Ulf; Burman, Robert; Hellman, Björn

Part of Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis, p. 176-181, 2012
- DOI for Genotoxicity and Cellular Uptake of Cyclotides: Evidence for Multiple Mode of Action
Effect of beta-carotene on catechol-induced genotoxicity in vitro: Evidence of both enhanced and reduced DNA damage

Åsgård, Rikard; Hellman, Björn

Part of Free radical research, p. 692-698, 2013
- DOI for Effect of beta-carotene on catechol-induced genotoxicity in vitro: Evidence of both enhanced and reduced DNA damage
Evidence for different mechanisms of action behind the mutagenic effects of 4-NOPD and OPD: the role of DNA damage, oxidative stress and an imbalanced nucleotide pool

Åsgård, Rikard; Haghdoost, Siamak; Osterman Golkar, Siv; Hellman, Björn et al.

Part of Mutagenesis, p. 637-644, 2013
- DOI for Evidence for different mechanisms of action behind the mutagenic effects of 4-NOPD and OPD: the role of DNA damage, oxidative stress and an imbalanced nucleotide pool
Frondoside A enhances the antiproliferative effects of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer

Al Shemaili, Jasem; Mensah-Brown, E.; Parekh, K.; Thomas, S. A. et al.

Part of European Journal of Cancer, p. 1391-1398, 2014
- DOI for Frondoside A enhances the antiproliferative effects of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer
Alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments in biomonitoring for genotoxicity: An introductory study on healthy human volunteers

Hellman, Björn; Vaghef, Hamid; Friis, Lennart; Edling, Christer

Part of International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, p. 185, 1997
No evidence for a diuretic effect of benzisothiazolinone (BIT) in an experimental animal model employing anaesthetised rats

Hellman, Björn; Sjoquist, Mats; Anundi, Helena; Edling, Christer

Part of J Occupational Health, p. 198, 1998
Extended-term cultures of human T-lymphocytes and the comet assay: a useful combination when testing for genotoxicity in vitro?

Andersson, Maria; Agurell, Eva; Vaghef, Hamid; Bolcsfoldi, George et al.

Part of Mutation Research, p. 43, 2003
Radiation-induced DNA-damage and gene expression profiles in human lung cancer cells with different radiosensitivity.

Hellman, Björn; Brodin, David; Andersson, Maria; Dahlman-Wright, Karin et al.

Part of Exp Oncol, p. 102-7, 2005
Impact of interindividual differences in initial DNA repair capacity when evaluating DNA damage using extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes and the comet assay

Maria, Andersson; Stenqvist, Per; Hellman, Björn

Part of Toxicology and applied pharmacology
Extended-term cultures of human T-lymphocytes: a useful combination when testing for genotoxicity in vitro?

Maria, Andersson; Eva, Agurell; Hamid, Vaghef; Bolcsfoldi, George et al.

Part of Mutation Research, p. 43-55, 2003
Different roles of Fpg and Endo III on catechol-induced DNA damage in extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells

Maria, Andersson; Hellman, Björn

Part of Toxicology In Vitro, p. 779-786, 2005
Cadmium-induced changes in apoptotic gene expression levels and DNA damage in mouse embryos are blocked by zinc.

Fernández, Estíbaliz L.; Gustafson, Anne-Lee; Andersson, Maria; Hellman, Bjorn et al.

Part of Toxicological Sciences, p. 162-170, 2003