PROPHYLAXIS OF ANTIOXIDANTS AGAINST THE GENOTOXICITY OF METHYL MERCURIC-CHLORIDE AND MALEIC HYDRAZIDE IN ALLIUM MICRONUCLEUS ASSAY

Antioxidants, namely cysteine, 2.46 x 10(-5) M; glutathione 9.75 x 10( -6), 9.75 x 10(-5) and 9.75 x 10(-4) M; vitamin C, 10(-2) M; mannitol, 5 x 10(-2) M; potassium iodide, 5 x 10(-2) M and sodium selenite, 1.7 3 x 10(-6) M; were tested for their prophylactic activity against the genotoxicity of methylmercuric chloride, 1.26 x 10(-6) M and maleic hy drazide, 3 x 10(-4) M in Allium micronucleus assay. Antioxidants doses were administered simultaneously or prior to the genotoxic exposures. The results from the present experiments indicated that antioxidants conferred protection against the genotoxicity of both methyl mercuric chloride and maleic hydrazide. Furthermore, the protection of GSH agai nst methyl mercuric chloride depending on the concentration persisted for 12 h.