Antimutagenic activity of 5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol, a new component from the starfish Asterina pectinifera

From the butanol fraction of the starfish Asterina pectinifera MULER et TRO SCHEL (Asteriidae), we have isolated a new component, 5 alpha-cholest-7-en- 3 beta-ol. Its antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activities were examined by the SOS chromotest,vith Escherichia coli PQ37 and by Ames test with Salmone lla typhimurium TA1538, respectively 5 alpha-Cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol showed potent antigenotoxic activity against the mutagens, both MNNG and NQO, For 100% of antigenotoxicity the concentration of the compound applied against MNNG and NQO were 10 mu g and 5 mu g per reaction tube, respectively, Its a ntimutagenic activity with S, typhimurium TA1538 against the mutagen MNNG w as very effective. When its concentrations were varied from 1 up to 10 mu g dose per plate, the inhibition ratio of revertant CFU of TA1538 per plate was increased accordingly from 25.2 to 99.2%, These results suggest that 5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol possesses antigenotoxic and antimutagenic acti vity and might be useful as a chemopreventive agent.