In vitro protective effects of botryosphaeran, a (1 → 3;1 → 6)-β-d-glucan, against mutagens in normal and tumor rodent cells

•Botryosphaeran was not cytotoxic in V79 and HTC cell lines.•Botryosphaeran is not mutagenic nor genotoxic to V79 and HTC cell lines.•Botryosphaeran protected V79 and HTC cell lines against DNA damage.•Data obtained are important to validate botryosphaeran as a therapeutic agent.

Botryosphaeran (BOT) is an exocellular β-d-glucan (carbohydrate biopolymer) of the (1 → 3;1 → 6)-linked type produced by Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05. The cytotoxic, mutagenic, genotoxic, and protective effects of this substance were evaluated in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) and rat hepatocarcinoma cells (HTC) by the micronucleus test (MN) and the comet assay. BOT was not genotoxic in either cell line; it decreased the clastogenic effects of doxorubicin, H2O2, and benzo[a]pyrene. These results indicate that BOT may have potential as a therapeutic agent.