Effect of different Thai traditional processing of various hot chili peppers on urethane-induced somatic mutation and recombination in Drosophila melanogaster: assessment of the role of glutathione transferase activity.

Four different Thai traditional chili peppers, namely bird pepper (Capsicum frutescens), red chili spur peppers (Capsicum annuum), green bell peppers and sweet pepper (C. annuum) were investigated for their antimutagenic properties. Each chili was prepared in three formulations commonly used for chili food processing; raw paste (chili ground in water), pickled in vinegar or stir-fried in palm oil. Each sample was tested for its antimutagenic effect against urethane by using the somatic mutation and recombination of wing hair of Drosophila melanogaster as an indicator. Three-day-old larvae, trans-heterozygous for two genetic markers, multiple wing hairs mwh and orrigon (ORR;flr3), were exposed to urethane alone or in combination with each chili formulation. The various processing methods for chilies differentially extracted the antimutagenic chili components. The specific chili as well as the method of processing influenced the observed antimutagenic properties against urethane. This suggested each chili contains a unique complex mixture of many antimutagens. Co-treatment and pre-treatment experiments showed that both direct and indirect protective mechanisms are involved in an 'activation' process to give antimutagenesis effects. An association between antigenotoxicity and glutathione transferase activity could not be established.