title: Antigenotoxic activity of natural chlorophylls.
abstract: Chlorophyllin, a man-made water-soluble form of chlorophyll, is a focus of intensive studies from many laboratories for its antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Natural chlorophylls, in contrast, have been little studied in this regard. Since yellow-green vegetables are implicated to be protective against human cancers by epidemiological studies, it is important to explore the antigenotoxic properties of natural chlorophylls. Previously, we reported that a chlorophyll sample prepared from Chlorella vulgaris inhibited the mutagenicity of 3-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole, a direct-acting mutagen, in Salmonella, and that the chlorophyll also showed inhibition of wing spot formation in Drosophila induced by 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2). We have now prepared several samples of chlorophyll from spinach and chlorella, and studied their effect on the genotoxicity of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) in Drosophila. The results showed that the genotoxicity of orally given 4NQO was suppressed by simultaneous administration of the chlorophylls. The mechanisms of this inhibition are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayatsu
mesh_terms: D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002735:Chlorophyllides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D018724:Spinacia oleracea
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002735:Chlorophyllides; D009153:Mutagens; D002734:Chlorophyll; D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; C007020:chlorophyllin