Abstract
Using the Ames bacterial mutagenicity test and an in vivo micronucleus test, we investigated the antigenotoxic effect of ellagic acid (EA) against the genotoxicity of three mutagens: aminomethylimidazo-quinoline (IQ), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU). Ellagic acid is naturally occuring phenolic compound which is found in a variety of soft fruits and vegetables.
Effect of this compound on immunosupressive activity of mutagens was followed in vivo by the chemiluminiscence test. In the Ames assay, ellagic acid at concentrations of 300 and 30 g/plate demonstrably inhibits the mutagenic activity of two indirect mutagens: IQ and AFB1.
The concentration of 300 g per plate had the strongest effect on mutagenicity of all concentrations of IQ in strain TA 98 of Salmonella typhimurium whereas in strain TA 100, it was 30 g per dish of ellagic acid that was more effective than 300 g/plate. Also in combination with different concentrations of AFB1 ellagic acid was proved to be a strong antimutagen.
In this case the lower of the two effective concentrations 30 g/plate - had a much greater antimutagenic effect than 300 g per plate on both strains tested. In combination with the direct mutagen MNU ellagic acid did not show any marked antimutagenic effect at most of the concentrations tested in strain TA 100.
Only the highest concentrations of ellagic acid reduced the mutagenic effect of MNU weakly and only in combination with two lower concentrations of MNU. In the micronucleus test three days oral application of ellagic acid before applicaton of AFB1, IQ or MNU respectively, markedly reduced the numbers of micronuclei induced by these three mutagens in polychromatophilic erythrocytes of mice.
Chemiluminescence test with mouse granulocytes proved, that EA not only prevent inhibitory effects of mutagens on the free oxygen radicals and hydrogen peroxide production, but this production was even stimulated by ellagic acid in combination with mutagens to the greater extent than by ellagic acid alone. From these results we can deduce, that ellagic acid repairs strong immunosupresive effect of all mutagens applied