In vitro inhibition of carcinogen-induced mutagenicity by Cassia occidentalis and Emblica officinalis

Aqueous extracts of Cassia occidentalis Linn. (Leguminoceae) and Emblica of ficinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae) were screened for effectiveness in inhibi ting mutagenicity of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in t he Ames test. Antimutagenicity was evaluated using Salmonella typhimurium s trains TA 98 and TA 100. In the assay, metabolic activation of AFB(1) (0.5 mu g/plate) and B[a]P (1 mu g/plate) was mediated by rat liver S9 preparati on. Although both plants inhibited mutagenicity, E. officinalis had more in hibitory effect than C. occidentalis. Their action is possibly mediated thr ough interactions with microsomal activating enzymes. Their inhibitory acti on on chromosomal aberrations together with present results suggest that th ese plants have potent antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities agains t mutagens requiring metabolic activation.