## 1 Introduction  
Genotoxicity is the capacity of a substance to damage the DNA by chemically modifying the nucleotide sequence or the DNA structure [1]. This can have severe repercussions on cellular functions and survival, and can be transmitted to the offspring when germ cells are damaged [1]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are genotoxic molecules, playing a role in several pathologies including cancer [2, 3]. ROS are highly unstable molecules due to the presence in their electronic shell of one or more unpaired electrons; hence, they are highly reactive with any cellular components (i.e., lipids, proteins, and DNA) and, when generated in excess, their oxidative power can significantly compromise cellular functions and trigger the apoptosis. Oxidative stress (OS) is due to the breaking of the physiological balance between the production and elimination of ROS, causing pathological conditions. Several genotoxic substances are present in the environment as pollutants due to their use in industrial production. Exposure to cadmium, a heavy metal present in pigments used for plastic products [4], significantly increases the rate of DNA damage in zebrafish [5], mainly through the generation of OS [6]. Further, _in vitro_ exposure of human sperm cells to nano-contaminant resulted in an increased rate of DNA damage and reduced DNA integrity, along with increased ROS generation [7]. As OS have a genotoxic effect due to ROS-mediated DNA damage, exogenous antioxidants have been investigated for their potential to counteract DNA damage. The phytochemicals contained in plants are known to be able to prevent oxidative DNA damage. In vivo and _in vitro_ studies have demonstrated the antigenotoxic and antioxidant properties of the extract of _Ziziphus jujuba_ fruit, a plant belonging to the family Rhamaceae, against genotoxins such as methyl methan sulfonate and hydrogen peroxide (H\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{2}\)) [8]. Similarly, _Croton antisphiliticus_ extracts reportedly inhibited the cytogenetic damage induced by genotoxic agents in human lymphocytes [9], while the antioxidant and antigenotoxic potential of a-tocopherol and anthocyanin are demonstrated _in vitro_ and in vivo [10]. Natural sources of these molecules include berries, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and cereals [11; 12]. Ellagic acid (EA) and curcumin (Cur) are emerging as natural compounds with antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties [13; 14]. EA is a natural polyphenic compound present in many fruits (such as pomegranate and Goji berries) and it has demonstrated antioxidant properties: it can eliminate two radicals per cycle, it is able to regenerate itself continuously, and its secondary metabolites are scavengers of a large number of radicals as well [15; 16; 17]. Moreover, an _in vitro_ study showed EA to prevent cancer proliferation in Balb/C mice, by inducing the expression and activation of Bax and caspase-3, involved in the apoptosis, and inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1, involved in the regulation of the cell cycle [18]. EA anti-genotoxic power is also proven in zebrafish (_Danio rerio_) embryos exposed to H\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{2}\)[19] as well as in human sperm exposed to benzene [13]. Cur is the main biologically active component of _Curcuna longa_ (Turmeric). It is a natural polyphenic compound with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties [20]. It has been reported to minimize colonization by _Candidida albicans_, a fungus that causes yeast infections [21]. Also, Cur blocks the tumor growth by inhibiting cell cycle progression and angiogenesis, inducing apoptosis and modulating immune responses [22]. Its antioxidant potential was recently reported _in vivo_ in zebrafish embryos exposed to H\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{2}\), as they showed lower lipid peroxidation, ROS generation and apoptotic rates after co-exposure to turmeric leaf extract [23]. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-genotoxic power of EA and Cur against benzene, a well-known genotoxic agent [24], on zebrafish blood cells _in vitro_.