Studies were carried out to elucidate the chemical nature of the desmutagenic factor of Burdock (Arctium lappa Linne), Which is shown to be a complex polymer having a molecular weight of about 300,000.5) Its desmutagenic effects are demonstrated on indirect mutagens such as Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, as well as on direct mutagens such as 2-nitro-l,4-diamino benzene and 4nitro-l,2-diamino benzene. The present findings suggest that this factor is not a protein because of the low content of nitrogen and the non-color reaction of its hydrolysate with ninhydrin. The desmutagenic factor probably possesses carboxyl groups as indicated by a 13C-NMRspectrum, potentiometric titration and analysis of its pyrolysates. This analysis of the factor's pyrolysates and its reductive degradation substances on the GC-massspectrum provided evidence that the factor also has an aromatic ring as a basic structure. The factor may be a lignin-like compoundhaving a 10% sugar content. Desmutagens are defined as agents inactivating mutagens through direct reactions.2) Wewere first able to show that many kinds of vegetables possess desmutagenic activities on pyrolysate mutagens derived from heated proteinous food or amino acids.1?2) In the cases of cabbage and broccoli, peroxidases were iden
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