Abstract
Six strains of Grifola frondosa (Maitake) were tested for an antimutagenic effect against EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) using Salmonella typhimurium TA100. The boiled water extract of G. frondosa fruit-bodies in Sample H (Hokuto strain) presented the highest effects against EMS. The remaining mutagenicity in 1.0 mg/plate of the G. frondosa from Hokuto was observed to be about 50%. Compared to the antimutagenicity of vegetables and fruits, the antimutagenicity of mushrooms showed to be weaker. In order to study the mechanisms, we examined antimutagenicity and bio-antimutagenicity against EMS using the commercial β-1, 3 glucan reported as a main substance having antitumorigenesis and anticarcinogenesis. The β-1, 3 glucan was observed to exhibit both moderate antimutagenicity and bio-antimutagenicity. It was possible that a complex was formed between the β-1, 3 glucan and EMS. We also estimated that the bioantimutagenic effect caused the excision of methylation in DNA and results in excision repair.
