In vivo antimutagenic effect of ascorbic acid against mutagenicity of the common antiamebic drug diiodohydroxyquinoline.

We have previously shown that the common antiamebic drug diiodohydroxyquinoline (DIHQ) exhibits mutagenic activity in the in vivo micronucleus test in Swiss albino mice. Results of experiments undertaken to study the influence of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the mutagenicity of DIHQ in this model system showed that ascorbic acid acts as an antimutagen against DIHQ. The effective antimutagenic doses of ascorbic acid themselves do not show any genotoxic effects in this in vivo system. It will be necessary, however, to elucidate the mechanism of action of ascorbic acid as well as its effects on the therapeutic properties of DIHQ before a practical use of ascorbic acid is contemplated for this purpose.