Evaluation of Protective Effects of Bioactive Phytochemicals Against Methotrexate in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 Coupled with Micronucleus Assay

We evaluated the antimutagenic effects of 10 kinds of bioactive phytochemicals and some phytochemical combinations against methotrexate (MTX)-induced genotoxicity by the umu test in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 combined with a micronucleus assay. We observed that allicin, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, eleutherosides, and isoflavones had higher antimutagenic activities than the other five types of bioactive phytochemicals. At the highest dose tested, MTX-induced genotoxicity was inhibited by 25%-75%. Kunming mice treated by MTX along with bioactive phytochemical combinations showed significant reduction in micronucleus induction and sperm abnormality rate (P<0.01). These results indicate that bioactive phytochemical combinations can be potentially used as new cytoprotectors.