IL A3. GENOTOXICITY AND ANTIMUTAGENICITY OF FOOD AND NUTRIENTS

M. Stamenković-Radak and M. Anđelković

Faculty of Biology and Institute of Biological Research, University of Belgrade

Genetic toxicology as a scientific discipline has developed from the need to detect agents in human environment with a potential to induce genetic alterations in somatic and/or germinative cells. The strong relation among mutagens and carcinogens places genetic toxicology into primary focus of both medical and environmental sciences.
Genotoxicology testing should meet certain criteria like sensitivity, repeatability, effectiveness, and extrapolation for humans. Genetic tests of numerous substances have been done using standardized protocols, to detect DNA alterations, in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, in vitro and in vivo. Chemicals have specific and diverse effect on genetic material, as mutagens or promutagens. Diet (food, nutrients, drinking water) contribute to human cancer risk as environmental factor and cancers can result from such gene-environmental interactions.

Foods contain both mutagens and components that decrease mutagenic effects. It is important to recognize that nutritionally related mutagenesis ultimately develops from imbalance of mutagenesis and antimutagenesis. The standardized strategy for genotoxicology testing is also used in testing the antigenotoxic effect of compounds of different origin which are used as food and nutrients.

References:

• Ferguson, L.R., 1994. Antimutagens and cancer chemopreventing agents in the diet. Mutation Research 307, 395-410
• Simic D, et al. 1998. Detection of natural bioantimutagens and their mechanisms of action with bacterial assay-system. Mutation Research 402, 51-57.
• Weisburger JH. 2001, Antimutagenesis and anticarcenogenesis, from the past to the future. Mutation Research 480-481, 23-35.
• Venitt S, Parry JM. 1984, Mutagenicity testing; a practical approach. IRL Press, Oxford.