Shark-cartilage containing preparation protects cells against hydrogen peroxide induced damage and mutagenesis.

Natural products from flora and fauna are frequently used as nutritional supplements and medicaments. Two short-term assays were carried out and negative results were obtained for shark-cartilage containing preparation. The tests employed were the Salmonella/mammalian microsome assay using tester strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535 with or without S9 mix and the SOS-Chromotest with Escherichia coli strain PQ37. Evidence for shark-cartilage containing preparation functioning as an antimutagen was detected. Using bacterial survival assays with Escherichia coli fpg (BH20) and xthA (BW9091), we investigated the putative role of shark-cartilage containing preparation in protecting cells against lesions induced by hydrogen peroxide in normal and low iron level conditions. Our data suggest that shark-cartilage containing preparation can play a scavenger role for reactive oxygen species and protect against DNA lesions in both conditions.