[The pharmacological problems of searching for and using antimutagens]

To design protectants of human genomic structures against mutagenic effects is defined as a new pharmacological problem; the perspectives of its solution are outlined. The experimental evidence that formed the biological basis for searching for pharmacological correctors of the mutagenic effects produced by xenobiotics is analysed, the basic principles for designing pharmacological protectants of genetic structures are formulated. Great emphasis is laid on the antimutagenic properties of antiradical agents. Evidence is provided for that there are no prospects of searching for pharmacological protectants among natural and synthetic phenol compounds. It is noted that the informative value of microbiological tests is poor. To design a corrector of the damaging action of each particular mutagen is shown to be an independent scientific problem which can be solved only by employing eukaryotic test systems. The areas of possible application of antimutagens are defined and some known examples of their use to protect human genetic structures are presented.