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Suppression of error prone pathway is responsible for antimutagenic activity of honey.

Author
Abstract
:

Honey, both unifloral (Syzygiumcumini) and bifloral, demonstrated strong antimutagenicity against physical (UV, γ) and chemical (ethylmethane sulfonate) mutagens as ascertained by rpoB/RifR and Ames tests. The effect of honey was evaluated in radiation (UV or γ) exposed Escherichia coli cells for SOS response, a well known error prone repair pathway known to significantly contribute to mutagenicity by quantifying LexA repressor level, measuring cell filamentation frequency, and prophage induction by SIVET (Selectable--In-Vivo Expression Technology) assay. LexA was almost completely degraded, phenotypically long filamentous cells (∼30 μm) were formed, and SIVET induction frequency was increased in radiation exposed E. coli cultures, however, these changes were significantly inhibited in presence of honey confirming its strong antimutagenic nature. Further, rpoB/RifR mutation frequency upon UV exposure in E. coli recA- cells was found to be negligible, whereas, E. coliumuC- and umuD- knockouts showed comparatively higher mutation frequency. Honey did not show any effect on mutagenesis in these knockouts, indicating the SOS dependence of the observed mutagenesis. Honey was also found to suppress EMS induced mutagenesis but through SOS independent mechanism. Phenolics present in honey were found to be one of the important factors contributing to the antimutagenicity of honey.

Year of Publication
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2012
Journal
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Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
Volume
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50
Issue
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3-4
Number of Pages
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625-33
ISSN Number
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0278-6915
URL
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https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0278-6915(12)00012-9
DOI
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10.1016/j.fct.2012.01.003
Short Title
:
Food Chem Toxicol
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