Effect of beta-carotene on mutagenic activity of some antineoplastics

Mutagenic activity on Salmonella typhimurium strains of some cytostatic drugs in the absence and in the presence of beta-carotene was evaluated. Cyclophosphamide mutagenicity was reduced by the retinoid both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, its metabolite 4'-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide, which does not require enzymatic transformation to exert genotoxic activity against bacteria, was not affected by the presence of beta-carotene. Moreover, the mutagenic activity of cis-Platinum, Adriamycin and 4'Epiadriamycin, which are typical direct-acting mutagens, was not affected by beta-carotene. Data obtained confirm that beta-carotene is able to prevent mutagenic activity of cyclophosphamide by interfering with its metabolic activation but failed to inhibit the interaction of genotoxic compounds with bacterial DNA.