Structural requirements for mutation formation from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiol epoxides in their

Anne Lagerqvist1, Daniel Håkansson, Heinz Frank

  • 1Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Toxicology, Arrhenius Laboratories of Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. anne.lagerqvist@gmt.su.se

Insights

Four food-derived antimutagens, including chlorophyllin (CHL), were tested against toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides (PAH-DE). CHL protected against all PAH-DE, while others showed varied efficacy, revealing significant differences in antimutagenic activity.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Molecular Toxicology
  • Food Science

Background:

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides (PAH-DE) from environmental sources pose mutagenic risks.
  • Food components like chlorophyllin (CHL), ellagic acid (EA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) are known antimutagens.
  • Fjord-region PAH-DE exhibit higher toxicity and mutagenicity compared to bay-region counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the protective effects of four dietary antimutagens against mutagenic PAH-DE.
  • To compare the efficacy of CHL, EA, EGCG, and BITC against different PAH-DE metabolites.
  • To investigate the variability in antimutagenic activity against structurally similar genotoxic compounds.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Chinese hamster V79 cells to assess toxicity and mutagenicity.
  • Employed an assay measuring reduced cell proliferation to indicate toxicity.
  • Used the V79 Hprt assay to monitor mutant frequencies and assess mutagenicity.
  • Adjusted PAH-DE concentrations to achieve comparable adduct levels for efficacy comparison.

Main Results:

  • Chlorophyllin (CHL) demonstrated significant protection against the mutagenicity of all tested PAH-DE and enhanced cell survival.
  • Ellagic acid (EA) provided significant protection against benzo[a]pyrene (BP)DE, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP)DE, and benzo[c]phenanthrene (BPh)DE.
  • Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) showed protective effects against BPDE and BPhDE, while benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) had a minor effect on dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA)DE and BPhDE.
  • A notable finding was the up to sevenfold difference in antimutagenic activity among the tested compounds against similar PAH metabolites.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary antimutagens like CHL, EA, and EGCG offer protection against mutagenic PAH-DE found on crops.
  • The effectiveness of antimutagens can vary significantly, even against structurally related carcinogenic compounds.
  • This study highlights the differential protective capacities of food-derived antimutagens against specific environmental mutagens.

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