ANTIGENOTOXIC SPINASTEROL FROM CUCURBITA-MAXIMA FLOWERS

The antigenotoxic constituent of squash flowers was isolated by solven t partitioning and repeated vacuum liquid chromatography. The micronuc leus test, an in vivo method, was used to monitor the antigenotoxicity of the various fractions during the isolation process. Isolate SQFwB2 D from the chloroform extract of squash flowers is the most antigenoto xic isolate. It decreased the mutagenicity of tetracycline by 64.7% at a dosage of 100 mg/kg mouse. Statistical analysis using Kruskall Wall is one-way analysis of variance by Ranks showed that SQFw2D is differe nt from the control group (tetracyline + corn oil) at alpha = 0.001. G C-MSD of isolate SQFwB2D shows 2 peaks at R(t) = 19.860 (SQFwB2D-1) an d 20.242 min (SQFwBD-2) with relative peak heights of 16:1, respective ly. Spectral analyses show that SQFwB2D-1 is 24 alpha-ethyl-5 alpha-ch olesta-7,trans-22-dien-3 beta-ol or spinasterol.