Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
11:14

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay

Published on: November 11, 2013

Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity studies of tannic acid and its related compounds

S C Chen1, K T Chung

  • 1Department of Medical Technology, Fooyin Institute of Technology, Kaosiung, Taiwan 830, People's Republic of China.

Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
|February 24, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Tannic acid and its derivatives were evaluated for mutagenicity and antimutagenicity. Tannic acid showed no mutagenic effects but impacted the metabolic activation of certain mutagens in the presence of S9 mix.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tannic acid and its derivatives are natural compounds with potential biological activities.
  • Understanding their mutagenic and antimutagenic properties is crucial for safety assessments.
  • Metabolic activation plays a key role in the mutagenicity of many compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the mutagenicity of tannic acid and its hydrolysed products (ellagic acid, gallic acid, propyl gallate).
  • To evaluate the antimutagenic potential of these compounds against various direct mutagens.
  • To investigate the effect of tannic acid on the metabolic activation of specific mutagens.

Main Methods:

  • Ames test using Salmonella tester strains TA98 and TA100.
  • Testing for mutagenicity and antimutagenicity against a panel of direct mutagens.
  • Assessing tannic acid's effect on mutagen activation in the presence of S9 mix.

Main Results:

  • Tannic acid and its hydrolysed products were not mutagenic.
  • These compounds did not exhibit antimutagenic activity against the tested direct mutagens.
  • Tannic acid inhibited the mutagenicity of benzidine and related compounds, suggesting an effect on metabolic activation.

Conclusions:

  • Tannic acid and its hydrolysed products are not mutagenic.
  • Tannic acid, but not its derivatives, influences the metabolic activation pathway of certain aromatic amines.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms involved in tannic acid's effect on mutagen metabolism.

More Related Videos

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System07:08

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

Published on: April 26, 2018

Advanced 3D Liver Models for In vitro Genotoxicity Testing Following Long-Term Nanomaterial Exposure08:25

Advanced 3D Liver Models for In vitro Genotoxicity Testing Following Long-Term Nanomaterial Exposure

Published on: June 5, 2020

Related Concept Videos

In vitro Mutagenesis01:16

In vitro Mutagenesis

To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity01:25

Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity

Bioactivation is a metabolic process that transforms less reactive substances into highly reactive metabolites, initiating tissue toxicity. This transformation can lead to various toxic effects, including carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Reactive metabolites are classified into two main types: electrophiles and free radicals.Electrophiles are electron-deficient species and are produced primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 during the metabolism of compounds containing carbon, nitrogen, or...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).