Abstract
Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of freeze dried fruit juices (FDFJ) of Morinda elliptica Ridl. (Rubiaceae), Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Oxalidaceae), Phyllantus acidus (L.) Skeels (Phyllantaceae) and Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae) in Allium cepa L were evaluated. Testing the mutagenic activity, onions were suspended in solution of different concentrations of FDFJ alone in tap water for 48 h. Thereafter, root tips were prepared and observed for dividing cells and chromosomal aberrations using a light microscope. Antimutagenicity screening was similar to the mutagenic evaluation, except that the solution of FDFJ was combined with 0.1% cylophosphamide-CP. Free radicals (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhyrazyl) scavenging activity of the FDFJ was tested using butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as the standards and their phenolic contents were evaluated by comparing with gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The free radicals scavenging power of M. fragrans at 1 mg/ml was almost similar to that of BHA and BHT and its phenolic content was 21 ± 6.0 mg GAE/g, the highest among the tested juices. A. cepa cell division was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the FDFJ of M. fragrans, while the induced chromosomal aberrations were non dose dependent. The cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations of CP were suppressed throughout the tested concentrations of M. fragrans, unlike the effects of other four juices. These results suggest that the observed activities of FDFJ of M. fragrans may be due to thequantity and quality of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, suggesting its use in preventing the DNA-damaging effects of mutagens. Key words: Allium cepa, antimutagenicity, antioxidants, cyclophosphamide, mutagenicity.
Highlights
Fruits are often consumed by humans because of their reported dietary and medicinal values, both of which are Abbreviations: freeze dried fruit juices (FDFJ), Freeze dried fruit juices; CP, cyclophosphoamide; GAE, gallic acid equivalents; CA, chromosomal aberration; MI, Mitotic index.in the main functions of their chemical constituents
These results suggest that the observed activities of FDFJ of M. fragrans may be due to the quantity and quality of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, suggesting its use in preventing the DNAdamaging effects of mutagens
At 1 mg/ml, the percentage of free radicals scavenged by the FDFJ of M. fragrans was 85.7%, amounting to 8.0%, and 7.1% less than the free radicals scavenging activity of butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), respectively
Summary
Fruits are often consumed by humans because of their reported dietary and medicinal values, both of which are Abbreviations: FDFJ, Freeze dried fruit juices; CP, cyclophosphoamide; GAE, gallic acid equivalents; CA, chromosomal aberration; MI, Mitotic index.in the main functions of their chemical constituents. The damaging effects of chemical compounds on the genetic system of organisms have been reported to elicit several human diseasessuch as cancer, type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, coronary heart disease and aging, through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), free radicals as well. An investigation into the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of plant constituents would be beneficial in providing information concerning possible dangers associated with the consumption of plant parts. It could serve as basis of chemotherapy, especially for cancer, whose occurrence has DNA damage as a principal step to carcinogenesis
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