IN-VITRO ANTIGENOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF NOVEL GINSENG SAPONIN METABOLITES FORMED BY INTESTINAL BACTERIA

Ginseng saponin metabolites produced by human intestinal bacteria were evaluated for antigenotoxic properties by testing their effects on be nzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-induced mutagenicity and clastogenicity. They inc lude 20-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-901), -->6 )-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-902) and 1-->6)-bet a-D-glucopyranosyl]20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-903). IH-901, IH-902 and IH-903 inhibited the mutagenicity of B[a]P in a dose-dependent manner. In the chromosome aberration assay, IH-901 and IH-903 reduced the fre quency of chromosome aberration induced by B[a]P. These results sugges t that the ginseng saponin metabolites tested in the present study hav e potential as chemopreventive agents.