Antimutagenic activity of 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol, a new component from the starfish Asterina pectinifera

Abstract

From the butanol fraction of the starfish Asterina pectinifera MULER et TROSCHEL (Asteriidae), we have isolated a new component, 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol. Its antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activities were examined by the SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37 and by Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA1538, respectively. 5α-Cholest-7-en-3β-ol showed potent antigenotoxic activity against the mutagens, both MNNG and NQO. For 100% of antigenotoxicity, the concentration of the compound applied against MNNG and NQO were 10 μg and 5 μg per reaction tube, respectively. Its antimutagenic activity with S. typhimurium TA1538 against the mutagen MNNG was very effective. When its concentrations were varied from 1 up to 10 μg dose per plate, the inhibition ratio of revertant CFU of TA1538 per plate was increased accordingly, from 25.2 to 99.2%. These results suggest that 5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol possesses antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activity and might be useful as a chemopreventive agent.