title: Evaluation of the antimutagenic activity and mode of action of carrageenan fiber in cultured meristematic cells of Allium cepa.
abstract: In this study, we evaluated the mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of carrageenan, a sulfated polysaccharide, and described its mode of action by using an Allium cepa assay. The results indicate that carrageenan is not mutagenic, rather it has significant chemopreventive potential that is mediated by both demutagenic and bio-antimutagenic activities. This compound can adsorb agents that are toxic to DNA and inactivate them. Additionally, carrageenan can modulate enzymes of the DNA repair system. The percentage of damage reduction ranged from 62.54 to 96.66%, reflecting the compound's high efficiency in preventing the type of mutagenic damage that may be associated with tumor development. Based on these findings and information available in the literature, we conclude that carrageenan is an important fiber that should be considered as a possible base for functional foods and/or diets with potential anticancer activity.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Nantes
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Célula Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pesarini
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Célula Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: A C D
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Monreal
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Célula Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ramires
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos em Célula Tronco, Terapia Celular e Genética Toxicológica, Núcleo de Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil rodrigo.oliveira@ufms.br.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018519:Meristem / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008940:Mitotic Index; D019697:Onions / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D002351:Carrageenan