The inhibitory effect of ellagic acid on genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by different doses of benzo[a]pyrene

Ellagic acid (EA), known as a naturally occurring plant phenol, has shown a significant influence on genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in experiments with sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and Ames Salmonella typhimurium revertants. The maximum inhibitory effect of EA has been detected at low levels of B(a)P doses administered intraperitoneal to mice. The frequency of SCE per chromosome in bone marrow cells induced by B(a)P has been greatly lowered by EA at lower B(a)P doses than 0.5 mg/kg body weight of animals. The number of Ames typhimurium revertants has been reduced in the highest degree at about 10 μg of B(a)P per plate.