INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF XANTHONE ON PARAQUAT- AND NaNO₂-INDUCED GENOTOXICITY IN CULTURED CELLS

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of xanthone on genotoxicity induced by paraquat and NaNO₂ in cultured Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells were examined. Xanthone forms the central core of xanthones. Xanthones are present in mangosteen, which is widely used as health food because of its many pharmacological properties. Paraquat (PQ, a superoxide anion generator) and NaNO₂ induce genotoxic effects, including sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and decreased cell cycle rate, in CHL cells. Xanthone inhibited the genotoxic effects of PQ and NaNO₂ at concentrations of more than 5 μM. The present results suggested the potent antigenotoxic effects of xanthones in mangosteens.