FOLIC-ACID PROTECTS AGAINST POTATO GLYCOALKALOID ALPHA-CHACONINE-INDUCED DISRUPTION OF FROG EMBRYO CELL-MEMBRANES AND DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY

To demonstrate whether folic acid can protect Xenopus embryos against reported adverse effects of the potato glycoalkaloid alpha-chaconine, the frog embryos were exposed simultaneously to the glycoalkaloid, fol ic acid (pteroylglutamic acid), and an electrochromic fluorescent dye, Di-4-ANEPPS, in a specially designed instrument that measures embryon ic membrane potential. Folic acid decreased the chaconine-induced fluo rescence, with a maximum decrease occurring at about 10 mg/L of both f olic acid and the glycoalkaloid dissolved in solution. The protective effect was also operative in the frog embryo teratogenesis assay-Xenop us (FETAX), in which survival and teratogenicity of the whole embryos were the endpoints. Possible mechanisms of the protective effect and t he possible significance of the results to food safety and health are discussed.