Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) apple juice lowers mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 in S. typhimurium TA102

Abstract

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a medicinal plant native to Brazil and also yields a nutritious fruit juice. Its large pulpy pseudo-fruit, referred to as the cashew apple, contains high concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and minerals. Natural and processed cashew apple juice (CAJ/cajuina) are amongst the most popular juices in Brazil, especially in the north-east. Both juices have antioxidant potential and suppress mutagenicity of hydrogen peroxide. In the present study we evaluated the inhibitory effects of CAJ/cajuina on Aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-induced mutation, using the Salmonella/microsome assay with the experimental approaches of pre-, co- and post-treatments. Both CAJ/cajuina suppress AFB1-induced mutagenesis in strain TA102 when applied in co- and in post-treatment. Possible mechanisms for anti-mutagenicity in co-treatment are (a) interaction with S9 enzymes, (b) metabolization to non-mutagenic compounds of AFB1 or (c) inactivation of S9 potential. Total suppression of AFB1 mutagenicity was observed in co-treatment with both CAJ and cajuina. Post-treatment anti-mutagenicity of both juices suggests a modulation of activity of error-prone DNA repair. CAJ/cajuina may be considered promising candidates for control of genotoxicity of AFB1 and may thus be considered as health foods with anti-carcinogenic potential. This promising characteristic warrants further evaluation with in vivo studies

Antimutagenic activity of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale Sapindales, Anacardiaceae) fresh juice and processed juice (cajuína) against methyl methanesulfonate, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and benzo[a]pyrene

“…However, fresh juice increased BaP mutagenicity in the 762 Melo-Cavalcante et al pre-treatment, suggesting a co-mutagenic effect (Table 3). Again, a similar response was reported in experiments involving aflatoxin B 1 when fresh juice was tested using pre-treatment of strain TA102 (Melo-Cavalcante et al, 2005). Many known antimutagenic chemicals of juices may also act as co-mutagens after metabolic activation and, moreover, polyphenols can be mutagenic, depending on whether they are present before, during, or after exposure to the relevant mutagen (Ferguson, 2001;Kozubek et al, 2001;Geetha et al, 2005).…”

“…The stimulation of repair and/or reversion of DNA damage may have been another antimutagenic mechanism of fresh and processed CAJ during post-treatment. This protection may be attributed to the presence in both juices of chemically-active components shown to be involved in the protection of DNA (MeloCavalcante et al, 2003;Melo-Cavalcante et al, 2005). However, fresh juice increased BaP mutagenicity in the 762 Melo-Cavalcante et al pre-treatment, suggesting a co-mutagenic effect (Table 3).…”

“…The mechanism responsible for this protection included the possible interaction with S9 enzymes, and the transformation of aflatoxin B1 and its mutagenic metabolites to non-mutagenic compounds (Melo-Cavalcante et al, 2005). The stimulation of repair and/or reversion of DNA damage may have been another antimutagenic mechanism of fresh and processed CAJ during post-treatment.…”

Biological activity of phenolic lipids

“…5-methylresorcinol present in pericarp wax also protects the kernel against Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin production [159]. Aflatoxin production is also inhibited by fresh and processed cashew apple juice [160]. 5-n-pentadecylresorcinols and the 5-n-alkylresorcinol mixture from rye inhibited the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus, A. versicolor, Penicillinum chyrysogenum, and P. roqueforte [161] as well as Fusarium culmorum, Rhizoctonia cerealis, and R. solani [162].…”

Pharmacological properties of cashew (Anacardium occidentale)

“…According to Melo-Cavalcante et al (2005), cashew pulp (cajuína) protected S. typhimurium (TA102) from damage induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), while the methanolic extract of bark (500-2000 µg/ml) of Chinese hamster (V79) in doxorubicin (0.75 mg/ml) induced damage (Barcelos et al, 2007b). In addition, there are reports for anticlastogenic (in vivo) (Melo-Cavalcante et al, 2011) and antimutagenic potentials of the cajuína in S. typhimurium TA98 (Chen and Chung, 2000).…”