Antigenotoxicity of galangin against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

Using the Ames bacterial mutagenicity test and an in vivo micronucleus test, we investigated the antigenotoxic effect of galangin against the genotoxicity of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). In the Ames assay, galangin showed an antimutagenic effect towards MNU-induced mutagenicity of Salmonella typhimurium TA 100. In mice, galangin showed an anticlastogenic effect against MNU-induced micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes in the MNPCE in mouse bone marrow cells. On the other hand, galangin is neither mutagenic nor clastogenic in both assays. Results from our in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that galangin is capable of suppressing the mutagenicity and clastogenicity of MNU. Therefore, galangin may be a useful chemopreventive agent against potential long-term health effects from genotoxic environmental agents. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.