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A comparative study on the antimutagenicity of atorvastatin and lovastatin against directly acting mutagens

T A Ajith1, M Soja

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Amala Nagar, Thrissur, Kerala, India. taajith@rediffmail.com

Cell Biology and Toxicology
|April 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Statins like atorvastatin and lovastatin show significant antimutagenic properties, inhibiting DNA damage linked to cancer. These findings suggest their potential as cancer chemopreventive agents, offering a new therapeutic avenue.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Oxidative DNA damage is a key factor in cancer development and progression.
  • Cancer risk escalates significantly with age, correlating with accumulated DNA damage.
  • Antimutagenic agents are explored for cancer chemoprevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antimutagenic potential of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, atorvastatin and lovastatin.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of these statins in preventing DNA mutations induced by specific mutagens.
  • To explore the therapeutic application of atorvastatin and lovastatin as cancer chemopreventive agents.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay to assess antimutagenicity.
  • Employed sodium azide (NaN(3)) and 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPDA) as direct-acting mutagens.
  • Tested lovastatin and atorvastatin on Salmonella strains TA98 and TA100.

Main Results:

  • Both lovastatin and atorvastatin demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) and dose-dependent antimutagenic activity.
  • Lovastatin (3 mg) inhibited NPDA- and NaN(3)-induced mutations by 79.9% and 61.8%, respectively.
  • Atorvastatin (0.5 mg) inhibited NPDA- and NaN(3)-induced mutations by 78.6% and 45.5%, respectively, showing activity at lower doses than lovastatin.

Conclusions:

  • Atorvastatin and lovastatin possess significant antimutagenic properties.
  • The study suggests a potential therapeutic role for these statins in cancer chemoprevention.
  • Further research into statins as cancer chemopreventive agents is warranted.

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