Biomaterial Database

Identification of antimutagenic substances in an extract of edible red alga, Porphyra tenera (Asakusa-nori) 1996

Y Okai, and K Higashi-Okai, and Y Yano, and S Otani

Division of Food and Nutrition, Osaka Kun-ei Women's College, Japan.

Recently, a relatively strong antimutagenic activity has been detected in the extract of Porphyra tenera (Asakusa-nori in Japanese) which showed a suppressive effect on mutagen-induced umu C gene expression in Salmonella typhimurium (TA 1535/pSK 1002 (Okai et al. (1994) Cancer Lett., 87, 25-32). In the present paper, we analyzed the active principles for the antimutagenic activity in an extract of Porphyra tenera and detected three color spots on a silica gel TLC plate which indicated very similar Rf values and absorbance spectra of standard pigments such as beta-carotene, chlorophyll a and lutein. The seaweed pigments recovered from preparative silica gel TLC corresponding to beta-carotene, chlorophyll a and lutein exhibited significant suppressive activities against mutagen-induced umu C gene expression and combined treatment with these pigments showed an additive effect compared with single treatment with each pigment. Furthermore, the standard pigments prepared from other biological sources also exhibited similar anti-mutagenic activities. The significance of this finding is discussed from the protective role of seaweed pigments against mutagenesis probably associated with carcinogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009152	Mutagenicity Tests	Tests of chemical substances and physical agents for mutagenic potential. They include microbial, insect, mammalian cell, and whole animal tests.	Genetic Toxicity Tests,Genotoxicity Tests,Mutagen Screening,Tests, Genetic Toxicity,Toxicity Tests, Genetic,Genetic Toxicity Test,Genotoxicity Test,Mutagen Screenings,Mutagenicity Test,Screening, Mutagen,Screenings, Mutagen,Test, Genotoxicity,Tests, Genotoxicity,Toxicity Test, Genetic
D010860	Pigments, Biological	Any normal or abnormal coloring matter in PLANTS; ANIMALS or micro-organisms.	Biological Pigments
D002338	Carotenoids	The general name for a group of fat-soluble pigments found in green, yellow, and leafy vegetables, and yellow fruits. They are aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 4 terpene subunits.	Carotenes,Carotenoid,Tetraterpene Derivatives,Tetraterpenes,Carotene,Derivatives, Tetraterpene
D002734	Chlorophyll	Porphyrin derivatives containing magnesium that act to convert light energy in photosynthetic organisms.	Phyllobilins,Chlorophyll 740
D000077194	Chlorophyll A	A form of chlorophyll that absorbs light in the violet to red spectrum (approximately 400-700 nm wavelength range) and reflects green light (500-570 nm wavelength), which imparts the characteristic green color to land plants. It is essential for oxygenic PHOTOSYNTHESIS.	Chlorophyll A2
D000461	Rhodophyta	Red algae whose color results from predominace of the red pigment (PHYCOERYTHRIN). However, if this pigment is destroyed, the algae can appear purple, brown, green, or yellow. Two important substances found in the cell walls of red algae are AGAR and CARRAGEENAN. Some rhodophyta are notable SEAWEED (macroalgae).	Algae, Red,Red Algae
D012624	Seaweed	Multicellular marine macroalgae including some members of red (RHODOPHYTA), green (CHLOROPHYTA), and brown (PHAEOPHYCEAE) algae. They are widely distributed in the ocean, occurring from the tide level to considerable depths, free-floating (planktonic) or anchored to the substratum (benthic). They lack a specialized vascular system but take up fluids, nutrients, and gases directly from the water. They contain CHLOROPHYLL and are photosynthetic, but some also contain other light-absorbing pigments. Many are of economic importance as FOOD, fertilizer, AGAR, potash, or source of IODINE.	Macroalgae
D014975	Lutein	A xanthophyll found in the major LIGHT-HARVESTING PROTEIN COMPLEXES of plants. Dietary lutein accumulates in the MACULA LUTEA.	Lutein F,Lutein G,beta,epsilon-Carotene-3, 3'-Diol, (3R,3'R,6'S)-,beta,epsilon-Carotene-3,3'-diol, (3S,3'R,6'S)-,gamma Lutein,Lutein, gamma
D016587	Antimutagenic Agents	Agents that reduce the frequency or rate of spontaneous or induced mutations independently of the mechanism involved.	Anti-Mutagenic Agent,Antimutagen,Antimutagenic Agent,Anti-Mutagenic Agents,Anti-Mutagenic Effect,Anti-Mutagenic Effects,Antimutagenic Effect,Antimutagenic Effects,Antimutagens,Agent, Anti-Mutagenic,Agent, Antimutagenic,Agents, Anti-Mutagenic,Agents, Antimutagenic,Anti Mutagenic Agent,Anti Mutagenic Agents,Anti Mutagenic Effect,Anti Mutagenic Effects,Effect, Anti-Mutagenic,Effect, Antimutagenic,Effects, Anti-Mutagenic,Effects, Antimutagenic
D019207	beta Carotene	A carotenoid that is a precursor of VITAMIN A. Beta carotene is administered to reduce the severity of photosensitivity reactions in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (PORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC).	Betacarotene,BellaCarotin,Carotaben,Max-Caro,Provatene,Solatene,Vetoron,beta-Carotene,Carotene, beta,Max Caro,MaxCaro