Antimutagenic potentials of flavonoids from Achillea millefolium L. subsp. millefolium

Abstract

Current researches have showed that cancer is one of the most widespread diseases in the world and there is a strong connection between its formation and mutagenesis. This has attracted attention toward mutation-focused researches to get better understanding, and finding new molecules with antimutagenic potential is a key concept for prevention of the hazardous effects of mutagens [1]. The genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) comprises 85 species worldwide and 50 species in the flora of Turkey with more than 50% endemism [2]. In the present study we investigated the mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of flavonoids isolated from Achillea millefolium L. subsp. millefolium by using Ames/Salmonella and E. coli WP2 bacterial test systems [3]. Four active compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of the plant and identified as luteolin, apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside and 6-OH-luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside by using a combination of extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. All of these compounds showed significant antigenotoxic activity against the positive mutagens MNNG and 9-AA. The inhibition rates ranged from 26.7% (luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside-3µM/plate) to 39.3% (luteolin-5µM/plate) for MNNG induced mutagenesis in E. coli WP2uvrA, and from 27.4% (apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucoside-4µM/plate) to 34.2% (apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucoside-5µM/plate) for 9-AA induced mutagenesis in S. typhimurium TA1537. 25 – 40% inhibition was defined as moderate antimutagenicity; 40% or more inhibition as strong antimutagenicity; and 25% or less inhibition as no antimutagenicity [4].