• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 1998

In order to compare the suppressive effect of galangin on the genotoxicity by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) or benzo[a]pyrene B(a)P, in vivo micronycleus test using mouse peripheral blood and in vitro sister chromatid exchange(SCE) test using mouse spleen lymphocytes were performed. MNU or B(a)P-induced micronucleated reticulocytes in vivo was decreased by the simultaneous treatment of galangin. MNU or B(a)P-induced SCEs in vitro was also decreased by the simultaneous treatment of galangin. On the other hand, the determinations of [$^3$H]MNU-induced total DNA binding and methylated DNA were performed to find out the mechanism of action. [$^3$H]MNU-induced total DNA binding was inhibited by the treatment of galangin in calf thymus DNA. HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates showed that galangin caused a decrease of 7-methyl guanine and $O^{6}$-methyl guanine in calf thymus DNA. To elucidate the action mechanism of galangin against B(a)P, alteration of B(a)P metabolism was studied. Galangin inhibited B(a)P metabolism in the presence of S-9 mix and decreased B(a)P-DNA binding in calf thymus DNA with S-9 mix.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 1998

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been extensively used in the traditional oriental medicine as a restorative, tonic and prophylatic agent. Petroleum ether extract of panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (GPE) and its several fractions (PI-P5) were tested for the evaluation of antigenotoxicity against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced micronucleated reticulocytes in mouse peripheral blood. GPE and P2 showed more significant anticlastogenicity than other fractions did. To elucidate the anticlastogenic action mechanism of GPE and P2 against B(a)P, the alteration of B(a)P metabolism was studied. GPE and P2 inhibited B(a)P metabolism in the presence of 8-9 mix and decreased B(a)P-DNA binding in calf thymus DNA with 8-9 mix. They also decreased [$^3H$] MNU induced DNA binding and methylation to 7-methyl guanine and $O^{6}-methyl$ guanine adducts in calf thymus DNA by RPLC analysis. These results suggest that the anticlastogenicity of GPE and P2 on the B(a)P or MNU-induced clastogenicity is due to decrease of DNA binding with B(a)P or MNU, the inhibition of metabolism with B(a)P and the inhibition of methylation in DNA. Therefore, GPE and P2 may be useful chemopreventive agents of alkylating agent like MNU and secondary carcinogen like B(a)P.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1990

The regulation of DNA repair genes expression was investigated using fused genes, in which the promoter of repair genes was hybridized with the lacZ structural gene. The activities of beta-galactosidase expressed from the fused gense were highly increased when the host cells were exposed to methylating agents, such as methyl methansulfonate (MMS), N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and methyl nitrosourea (MNU). On the other hand, the enzyme activities from the fused genes were not induced when the cells were treated with ethylating or nonalkylating agents, such as ethyl methansulfonate (EMS), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), Bleomycin, and Benzo(a)pyrene (BP).