ABSTRACT
The antimutagenicity of 14 compounds, cysteine (1), cinnamic acid (2), rutin (3), tannic acid (4), germanium dioxide (5),fluoro uracil (6), sodium copper chlorophylline (7),?-sitosterol (8), vitamin C (9), coumarin (10), vitamin E (11), L-glutathine (oxidized form) (12), L-glutathine (reduced form) (13) and organic germanium (14), were investigated using Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay in TA100.Three modes of action, i.e. inhibitory, antimutagenic and desmutagenic effects, were observed-for their antimutagenicity. Results showed that all of test compounds inhibited mutagenicity induced by MNNG and B(a)P with the exception of germanium dioxide. Percent inhibition of compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 were greater than 90%. 14 compounds exhibited antimutagenic effects on the mutagenic activity of MNNG, and 12 compounds exhibited antimutagenic effects on B(a)P. Germanium dioxide and organic germanium had no such effect. 14 compounds all exerted desmutagenic effects on B (a)P directly before B(a)P acted on cells. According to the potential and modes of action, cysteine, cinnamic acid, rutin, tannic acid and coumarin were better among 14 compounds. The doseresponse relationships of inhibitory and antimutagenic effects on mutation induced by MNNG and B(a)P were found. Each compound has its sufficient range of dosage. These studies suggest that it is necessary to select effective antimutagens to make mixtures, and their synergistic effects should be investigated.