ANTIMUTAGENIC ACTIVITY OF ANTHOCYANINS ISOLATED FROM ARONIA-MELANOCARPA FRUITS

Anthocyanins belong to the flavonoid family and are ubiquitous in plan ts, especially in flower petals and fruit peels. We established that a nthocyanins isolated from fruits of Aronia melanocarpa markedly inhibi ted the mutagenic activity of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-amino fluorene in t he Ames test. In the Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) test with human blood-derived lymphocytes cultured in vitro, a significant decrease o f SCEs frequency induced by benzo(a)pyrene was observed in the presenc e of anthocyanins. In the case of mitomycin C the effect of anthocyani ns on SCEs frequency was smaller but still noticeable. Anthocyanins ma rkedly inhibited the generation and release of superoxide radicals by human granulocytes. The results suggest that the antimutagenic influen ce of anthocyanins is exerted mainly by their free-radicals scavenging action as well as by the inhibition of enzymes activating promutagens and converting mutagens to the DNA-reacting derivatives. These prelim inary data seem to be important in the aspect of st possible antimutag enic and anticarcinogenic potency of anthocyanins commonly present in fruits and vegetables. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.