title: Assessment of the genotoxic activity of alpha-asarone and its derivatives in the comet assay.
abstract: In our previous paper we examined mutagenic and genotoxic activity of 4 alpha-asarone isomers 2-5 exhibiting relatively high hypolipidemic activity. In the present paper, we examined genotoxic activity of alpha-asarone and its isomers as the ability to damage cellular DNA, evaluated in the comet assay. Additionally, mutagenic activity of alpha-asarone in Ames test has been examined. The Ames test for alpha-asarone was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the PN-EN ISO 10993-3 standard. Compounds 4 and 5 were found to be devoid of any genotoxic activity while maintaining their hypolipemic potential. Because mutagenic activity of compound 4 was also minor it could be considered as a candidate for further pharmacological evaluation. Genotoxic but not mutagenic activity of alpha-asarone has been confirmed.
authors.affiliation: National Medicines Institute, Biochemistry and Biopharmaceuticals Department, Chełmska 30/34, 00-725 Warszawa, Poland. jmarczewska@il.waw.pl
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marczewska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drozd
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anuszewska
authors.forename: Zdzisław
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chilmonczyk
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Łozowicka
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D007536:Isomerism; D051379:Mice; D009153:Mutagens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009153:Mutagens; C012195:asarone