Antimutagenic effect of ellagic acid and its effect on the immune response in mice

Using the Ames bacterial mutagenicity test and an in vivo micronucleus test, we investigated the antigenotoxic effect of ellagic acid on the genotoxicity of three mutagens: amino-methylimidazo-quinoline (IQ), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU). The concentration of 300 microg/plate had the strongest effect on mutagenicity of all concentrations of IQ in strain TA98 of Salmonella typhimurium, whereas in strain TA100, the concentration of 30 microg per dish of ellagic acid was more effective than 300 microg per plate. Thirty microg/plate of ellagic acid had a much greater antimutagenic effect on both strains tested than 300 microg/plate when different concentrations of AFB1 were used. The mutagenic effect of MNU was only weakly reduced by the ellagic acid used in high concentrations. In the micronucleus test, three-day oral application of ellagic acid prior to the applicaton of AFB1, IQ, or MNU, respectively, markedly reduced the numbers of micronuclei induced by these three mutagens in polychromatophilic erythrocytes of mice. Ellagic acid prevented the negative effects of mutagens in one of the phases of phagocytosis as measured by chemiluminescence.