Antimutagenic activity of β-carotene

Abstract

Data are presented on the ability of synthetic [3-carotene to reduce the level of cyclophosphane-induced chromosome aberrations in murine bone marrow cells. In Salmonella typhimurium cells 13-carotene exhibits antimutagenic activity only against an indirect mutagen (2 -aeetylaminofluorene). Key Words: ~-carotene; antimutagenic activity; chromosome mutations; Ames testThe efficacy of [3-carotene (BC) as an oncoprophylactic agent has been proven in epidemiological trials which demonstrated a correlation between the plasma carotenoid level and cancer morbidity. There are some data on the preventive effect of BC added to food on the induction of tumors by chemical agents in rodents [4]. It is currently believed that the first stage of carcinogenesis (initiation) consists in the induction of mutations by various agents which results in the activation of cell protooncogenes and in the formation of a primary tumor cell. Hence, an analysis of the antimutagenic properties of BC is very important for understanding its antitumor effect. The aim of our study was thus to investigate the antimutagenic properties of BC using in vivo and in vitro models.It should be noted that little is known about the methodology of studies of the antimutagenic effect of BC. The approach commonly used is one whereby: the antimutagerdc effect of BC is studied in short-term mutagen tests with known induetors in optimal concentrations.Experiments on mice showed that BC in large doses rapidly reduced the number of chromosome