PYCNOPORELLUS FULGENS EXTRACTS INDUCE MICRONUCLEI IN CULTURED HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES

A screening programme for the detection of new natural antifungal agen ts showed high activity of crude extracts of Pycnoporellus fulgens aga inst both yeast and dermatophytes. Before conducting additional studie s on these mycolytic actions, we assessed the genotoxicity of crude ex tracts by using the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay. A crude ex tract and water-soluble purified fraction induced micronuclei in binuc leated lymphocytes whereas the water-insoluble residual fraction faile d to do so. This study indicates the importance of genotoxicity testin g in screening programmes for the therapeutic properties of natural su bstances. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.