Genotoxic and antimutagenic activities of extracts from pseudocereals in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay.

Extracts of amaranth (Amaranthus L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) were evaluated for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100 and TA102. All three pseudocereal extracts were also assessed for their antimutagenic properties against the direct mutagens 2-nitrofluorene (2NF) for strain TA98, 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylic acid (5NFAA) for TA100 and H(2)O(2) for TA102 strain and against the indirect mutagen aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). No mutagenicity was induced by any of the pseudocereal extracts when tested at concentrations as high as 50mg/ml. All three extracts showed similar antimutagenicity against 5NFAA and no antimutagenicity against 2NF. The number of revertants induced by H(2)O(2) extract was inhibited in order amaranth>Japanese milet>sorghum. All extracts were effective in the inhibition of mutagenic activity of aflatoxin B(1). The total polyphenol content as well as the amount of the flavonoids and phenolic acids as main component of polyphenolics were also determined.