title: The inhibitory effect of extracts from Fructus lycii and Rhizoma polygonati on in vitro DNA breakage by alternariol.
abstract: Alternariol caused DNA single-strand breakage. Conversion of the closed circular double-stranded supercoiled DNA (pBR 322) to the nicked circular form and linear form was used to investigate the effect of extracts of some Chinese medical herbs on DNA nicking induced by alternariol. Some substances in the extracts of Rhizoma polygonati (RP) and Fructus lycii (FL) were shown to protect DNA from the attack by alternariol. Some substance in the RP may bind to plasmid DNA, and this binding reduces the electrophoretic mobility of DNA. These results indicate that substances from FL and RP may be used as DNA protectors. It is possible that they play an important role in preventing cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: T Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007783:Lactones / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007783:Lactones; D009183:Mycotoxins; C005197:alternariol