In Vitro Antimutagenic Effects of Alaternin and Isorubrofusarin Gentiobioside from roasted Cassia tora

The antimutagenic activity of a methanol extract of roasted Cassia tora seed against aflatoxin $B_1(AFB_1)$ was demonstrated with the Salmonella typhimurium assay. The numbers of revertants per plate decreased significantly when this extract was added to the assay system using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and or TA98. The MeOH extract was then sequentially partitioned with $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and $H_2O$. The $CH_2Cl_2$ and n-BuOH fractions possessed antimutagenic activity, but the EtOAc and $H_2O$ fractions were inactive. Both the MeOH extract and its fractions were capable of inhibiting the indirect-acting mutagen $AFB_1$, suggesting that these fractions may prevent the metabolic activation of $AFB_1$, or scavenge the electrophilic intermediate capable of inducing mutations. Column chromatography using silica gel yielded pure alaternin from the $CH_2Cl_2$ a fraction, and adenosine and isorubrofusarin gentiobioside from the n-BuOH fraction. Alaternin and isorubrofusarin gentiobioside demonstrated significant antimutagenic activities.