Porphyrins as possible preventers of heterocyclic amine carcinogenesis.

Our studies have shown that hemin and chlorophyllin can directly interact with heterocyclic amines (HAs) and prevent their mutagenic actions. Hemin and chlorophyllin can trap HAs efficiently, probably by forming face-to-face complexes with them. The trapping was most clearly demonstrated by use of solid-supported porphyrins, hemin-agarose and chlorophyllin-chitosan. Furthermore, spectroscopic measurements have suggested that there are interactions in solution between the porphyrins and the HAs. A number of in vivo data have been accumulated by efforts from many laboratories for the anticarcinogenic and antigenotoxic properties of porphyrins, particularly chlorophyllin, against HAs.