BACKGROUND: Rice bran is the outer layer of the rice grain, and contains high amounts of bioactive phytochemicals. Here, we investigated and compared chemopreventive properties of purple and white rice bran extracts. METHODS: Rice bran was extracted with dichloromethane and methanol. Chemical constituents in the extracts were analyzed by colorimetric assay and high performance liquid chromatography. The mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of the extracts were determined via the Salmonella mutation assay. The anticarcinogenic enzyme induction and antioxidant activities of the extracts were examined using Hepa1c1c7 cells and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay, respectively. RESULTS: The methanol extracts of rice bran contained high amounts of phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phytic acid, whereas large amounts of γ-oryzanol and vitamin E were presented in the dichloromethane extract. None of the extracts were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium. All rice bran extracts had strong antimutagenic effects against aflatoxin B1- and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline-induced mutagenesis. The inhibitory effect against 2-aminofluorene-induced mutagenesis was found in the dichloromethane extract, while only the methanol extract of purple rice bran exhibited antimutagenic effects against benzo(a)pyrene. None of the extracts induced quinone reductase activity in Hepa1c1c7 cells. Additionally, the greatest antioxidant capacity was found in the methanol extract of purple rice bran. CONCLUSIONS: The methanol extract of purple rice bran containing high amount of phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and phytic acid showed the most effective antioxidant and antimutagenic activities by inhibiting mutagenic metabolizing enzymes and/or scavenging free radicals. These results demonstrate the nutritional and medical value of Thai rice for cancer prevention.
Aflatoxins ; Anthocyanins ; Antimutagenic Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Enzyme Induction ; Flavonoids ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Methanol ; Methylene Chloride ; Mutagenesis ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; Phenol ; Phytic Acid ; Phytochemicals ; Salmonella ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

This study is designed to evaluate antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of corn tassel extracts (CTTs). The major bioactive components of CTTs include flavonoid, saponin and polysaccharide. The antioxidant properties of the three bioactive components of CTTs were investigated by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Property (FRAP) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The activities of the extracts were determined by assessing the inhibition of mutagenicity of the direct-acting mutagen fenaminosulf, sodium azide, and indirect-acting mutagen 2-aminofluorene using the Ames test (strains TA98 and TA100). The results showed that the extraction rates of flavonoid, saponin, and polysaccharide from the dried corn tassels were 1.67%, 2.41% and 4.76% respectively. DPPH and FRAP assay strongly demonstrated that CTTs had antioxidant properties. CTTs at doses of 625, 1250 and 2500 μg per plate reduced 2-aminofluorene mutagenicity by 12.52%, 28.76% and 36.49% in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain assay respectively and by 10.98%, 25.27% and 37.83%, at the same doses in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 assay system, respectively. 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the different concentrations of CTTs inhibited the proliferation of MGC80-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). It is concluded that these integrated approaches to antioxidant and antigenotoxicity assessment may be useful to study corn tassel as a natural herbal material.
Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Fluorenes ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflorescence ; chemistry ; Mutagens ; pharmacology ; Picrates ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Salmonella typhimurium ; drug effects ; genetics ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Zea mays ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the neuroprotective effects of edaravone (Eda) on cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms.

METHODSPC12 cells impaired by CoCl2 were used as the cell model of hypoxia. MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium) was used to assay the viability of the PC12 cells exposed to Eda with gradient concentrations; Hochest 33258 stain assay was used to analyze the apoptosis ratio of the PC12 cells; Bcl-2 and Bax protein levels in PC12 cells were examined by western blotting. ROS level, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and caspase-3 activity in each group were detected by spectrofluorometer.

RESULTSCoCl2 treatment caused the loss of cell viability in PC12 cells, which was associated with the elevation of apoptotic rate, the formation of ROS and the disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. CoCl2 also significantly induced the upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, Eda significantly reversed these phenotypes, with its maximum protective effect at 0.1 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicated that Eda could protect PC12 cells from CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity, and this protection might be ascribed to its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

Animals ; Antimutagenic Agents ; toxicity ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Count ; methods ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Interactions ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the in vitro possible clastogenic and cytotoxic activities of Ulva rigida crude extracts (URE), and identify their antigenotoxic and protective effects on chemotherapeutic agent mitomycine-C (MMC).

METHODSAnti-clastogenic and anti-genotoxic activities of Ulva rigida crude extracts (URE) were studied using chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and micronuclei (MN) tests in human lymphocytes cultured in vitro.

RESULTSThe chromosome aberration, sister chromatid exchange or micronuclei tests showed that URE at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 microg/mL had no clastogenic activity in human lymphocyte cell culture. Three doses of URE significantly decreased the number of chromosomal aberrations and the frequencies of SCE and MN when compared with the culture treated with MMC (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONAlthough URE itself is not a clastogenic or cytotoxic substance, it possesses strong antigenotoxic, anti-clastogenic, and protective effects on MMC in vitro.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorophyta ; Chromosome Aberrations ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Micronucleus Tests ; Mitomycins ; pharmacology ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEBacoMind (BM) is a standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri, which belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae and is a creeping annual plant found throughout the Indian subcontinent. It has been used by Ayurvedic medicinal practitioners in India for almost 3000 years and is classified as a medharasayana, a substance which improves memory and intellect. With the widespread traditional use as well as scientific validation of Bacopa monnieri for nootropic activity, a bioactive-rich unique phytochemical composition-BacoMind was developed from B. monnieri for use as a cognition and memory enhancing agent. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro toxicity of this formulation of BacoMind on human lymphocytes and to rule out its possible contribution to mutagenicity.

METHODSIn the present investigation the active ingredients present in BM were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Antioxidant and anticlastogenic properties of BM were studied in vitro with and without metabolic activation. Doses of BM were chosen on the basis of mitotic index (MI) and cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI). Clastogenicity assays were performed at 31.2 microg/mL, 62.5 microg/mL, and 125 microg/mL, while the Salmonella reverse mutation assay (Ames test) was performed at doses of 61.72, 185.18, 555.55, 1666.67, and 5000.00 microg/plate.

RESULTSHPLC and HPTLC analysis of BM revealed the presence of bacoside A3, bacopaside I, bacopaside II, jujubogenin isomer of bacopasaponin C, bacosine, luteolin, apigenin, bacosine, and beta-sitosterol D glucoside. BM demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. The number of chromosomal aberrations and the frequency of micronuclei induced by BM were not statistically significant up to a dose of 62.5 microg/mL. A subsequent dose of 125 microg/mL prior to metabolic activation induced mild clastogenicity, but it was found to be biologically insignificant as this effect was not seen post metabolic activation. BM also demonstrated a dose-dependent protection against the clastogens used in this study using the above tests for clastogenicity. Maximum protection was observed in presence of metabolic activation. Moreover, BM demonstrated no mutagenic effect on the tested strains, as observed in the Ames test.

CONCLUSIONBM protected human lymphocytes against various clastogens. BM also exhibited high antioxidant activity which might be responsible for the observed protective effects against the clastogens since the used clastogens are known to induce their clastogenic effects via production of oxidative radicals.

Antimutagenic Agents ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Bacopa ; chemistry ; Biotransformation ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; pharmacology

Homoisoflavonoid is a special type in flavonoids. There are more than 110 homoisoflavonoid compounds isolated from natural materials. Homoisoflavonoid compounds show many bioactivities on anti-inflammatory, estrogenicy, antiestrogenic, anticancer and angioprotective etc. This paper summarized the plant sources, structural types spectrocopy features and the biology activities of homoisoflavonoids.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Turmeric has long been used as a spice and food colouring agent in Asia. In the present investigation, the antimutagenic potential of curcumin was evaluated in Allium cepa root meristem cells. So far there is no report on the biological properties of curcumin in plant test systems. The root tip cells were treated with sodium azide at 200 and 300 microg/ml for 3 h and curcumin was given at 5, 10 and 20 microg/ml for 16 h, prior to sodium azide treatment. The tips were squashed after colchicine treatment and the cells were analyzed for chromosome aberration and mitotic index. Curcumin induces chromosomal aberration in Allium cepa root tip cells in an insignificant manner, when compared with untreated control. Sodium azide alone induces chromosomal aberrations significantly with increasing concentrations. The total number of aberrations was significantly reduced in root tip cells pretreated with curcumin. The study reveals that curcumin has antimutagenic potential against sodium azide induced chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa root meristem cells. In addition, it showed mild cytotoxicity by reducing the percentage of mitotic index in all curcumin treated groups, but the mechanism of action remains unknown. The antimutagenic potential of curcumin is effective at 5 microg/ml in Allium cepa root meristem cells.
Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Meristem ; drug effects ; genetics ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Onions ; drug effects ; genetics ; Sodium Azide ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo study the anticlastogenic effect of redistilled cow's urine distillate (RCUD) in human peripheral lymphocytes (HLC) challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium.

METHODSThe anticlastogenic activity of redistilled cow's urine distillate was studied in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (HPNLs) and human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium as established genotoxicants and clastogens which could cause induction of DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus. Three different levels of RCUD: 1 microL/mL, 50 microL/mL and 100 microL/mL, were used in the study.

RESULTSManganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium caused statistically significant DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation, which could be protected by redistilled cow's urine distillate.

CONCLUSIONThe redistilled cow's urine distillate posseses strong antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic properties against HPNLs and HLC treated with Cr+6 and MnO2. This property is mainly due to the antioxidants present in RCUD.

Animals ; Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; urine ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromium ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Manganese Compounds ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Oxides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To observe the proliferation of SW480 cells exposed to different concentrations of CoCl2, and to examine the expression of hypoxiainducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) during hypoxia to explore the chemotherapy resistance effect and role of HIF-1alpha and HO-1. METHODS: Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTF) method was used to detect the proliferation of SW480 cells in the presence of fluorouracil (FU). RT-PCR was applied to examine the expression of HIF-1alpha and HO-1 mRNA in hypoxia. RESULTS: SW480 cells were proliferated at a slow rate, and had a strong resistance to FU with the increase of CoCl2. RT-PCR showed that the up-regulated expression of HIF-1alpha and HO-1 mRNA was consistent with the dose-effect curve and time-effect curve. CONCLUSION The hypoxia induced by CoCl2 can inhibit the proliferation of SW480, and it can also decrease the sensitivity of the cell to FU. The mechanism is probably related to the up-regulated expression of HIF-1alpha and HO-1 mRNA.
Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; pharmacology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antimutagenicity of propolis in vivo and in vitro.

METHODSSalmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 were used as a test model in vitro against a direct mutagen DMC and an indirect mutagen 2AF with or without S9 mix, and MN formation of mice bone marrow cell and CAs induction of mice testicle cell were applied as a test model in vivo against two mutagens CP and MMC.

RESULTSThe present study clearly demonstrated that propolis could inhibit mutagenicity of both DMC and 2AF directly in a dose-dependent manner, and significant antimutagenic effects (P < 0.05) were obtained in TA98 strain at 2000 and 3000 microg/plate. It also could inhibit mutagenicity of both DMC and 2AF to TA98 strain in a dose-dependent manner, with significant antimutagenic effects (P < 0.05) appeared at 1000, 2000, and 3000 microg/plate. The results of antimutagenicity test in vivo revealed that propolis could inhibit MN formation significantly (P < 0.05) at the doses of 45.0 and 135.0 mg/kg b. w., and decrease the frequency of chromosome aberrants and chromosome aberrant cells significantly (P < 0.05) only at the dose of 135.0 mg/kg b. w.

CONCLUSIONThe propolis is a good inhibitor for mutagencity of DMC and 2AF in vitro, as well as for CP and MMC in vivo.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Animals ; Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; Chromosome Aberrations ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Mice ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Propolis ; pharmacology ; Salmonella typhimurium ; drug effects ; genetics ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects