A novel antimutagen in bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) acts against the dietary carcinogen 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2). The antimutagen was purified chromatographically from
ethyl acetate extract of bay leaf and identified instrumentally to be 3-kaempferyl p-coumarate. The
yield was 20 mg from 100 g of bay, and its IC50 value, the amount required for 50% inhibition of the
mutagenicity of 20 ng of Trp-P-2, was 1.9 μg. This value is close to those for strong antimutagens
such as flavones and flavonols. The antimutagenicity was due to a desmutagenic action that
inhibited the metabolic activation of Trp-P-2 to its ultimate carcinogenic form. The kaempferyl
moiety contributed to the activity. Interestingly, this compound had weak bioantimutagenicity and
could also suppress the mutagenicity of direct mutagens.
Keywords: Kaempferyl coumarate; antimutagen; flavonoid; dietary carcinogen; cancer prevention
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