Mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from fresh and irradiated Tuber aestivum black truffle: A preliminary study

A preliminary study was performed on fresh and irradiated Tuber aestivum black truffles to investigate the presence of mutagenic and antimutagenic activities in the fresh product and to examine the possible effects of treatment with gamma rays. The study was performed on aqueous and ethanolic extracts from truffles, untreated or irradiated with a final dose of 1.5 kGy. Two Salmonella typhimurium His− strains, TA 98 and TA100, were used. The preliminary results indicate that black truffles may contain compounds having an inhibitory effect against direct and indirect acting mutagenic compounds. The irradiation did not lead to the formation of mutagenic compounds, but the level of antimutagenic activity was slightly decreased after the treatment.