Analysis of plant extracts antimutagenicity using the Ames test and the cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes

This work was focused on comparison of antimutagenic effect of selected plant extracts (carrot, paprika, tomato, spinach, onion, kiwi and green tea) analysed by two independent tests of genotoxicity: i) the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and ii) cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (CAPL). Both methods were proved without and/or with metabolic activation. Samples were allowed to be positive antimutagens based on their ability to inhibit the mutagenic effects of standard mutagens. High positive results (more than 60% of inhibition of mutagenic effect) were obtained with extract from green tea. Extracts from paprika, carrot and spinach as well as solutions of standard all-trans-beta-carotene and some standard flavonoids showed antimutagenic (40-60% of inhibition) or weakly antimutagenic (20-40% of inhibition) effects. Positive antimutagenic effects of extracts from spinach and green tea were determined using CAPL method too. Further, the comparison of antimutagenic activity and antioxidant capacity of tested samples analysed using TRAP (total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter) method was proved. Extract from green tea showed the highest antioxidant as well as antimutagenic capacity, but no correlation was found between these parameters in all tested extracts.