Effect of ellagic and caffeic acids on covalent binding of benzo[a]pyrene to epidermal DNA of mouse skin in organ culture.

The covalent binding of the anti-diol epoxide of benzo[a]pyrene to cellular DNA of mouse skin in organ culture is affected by the presence of ellagic acid in the culture medium. At 10(-4) M, BaPDE /DNA formation is 40% less than that observed when no ellagic acid is present. Caffeic acid, a similar plant phenolic compound, demonstrates no inhibitory effect on BaPDE /formation. The plant phenolic acids do not drastically interfere with the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene as shown by the BaP-metabolite profiles of the skin or of the culture medium.