![]() There is evidence that mutation in somatic cells causes cancer, genetic disorders and many other degenerative disorders including arthritis and connective tissue disorders, hepatic disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, chronic inflammation, ageing etc. Many diverse environmental, industrial, dietary and natural chemicals are capable of inducing mutation and genotoxic effects. These agents produce a variety of lesions in DNA including strand break, base damage and dimerisation of bases. These include, physical agents like Ultra Violet (UV) and X-rays which cause the deletion of nucleotide. Mutagens: The substances which can induce mutations are known as mutagens. The chemical and physical factors that induce mutation are called mutagens and those that reduce their mutagenicity are called antimutagens ( Venitt and Parry, 1984). Mutations cause permanent alteration in DNA structure, which have been implicated in the etiopathology of cancer and other degenerative diseases. In general, mutations are detrimental because in most cases they lead to defects in cellular functions. Mutation occurs spontaneously or may be induced by several physical, chemical or biological agents. This change may be expressed, for example as change in the structure of a protein which alters or abolishes its enzymatic properties. Mutation: Mutation refers to heritable change in nucleotide sequence or number occurring due to alteration in the sequence of the code in a gene due to change, removal or insertion of one or more bases in a gene resulting in an altered gene product ( Hartl et al., 1994). In this review promise of these natural antimutagens has been focused upon. A large number of experimental reports have begun to appear in the scientific literature, wherein increasingly more natural antimutagens have been identified, isolated and found to possess significant mutation chemoprevention properties. Hence, research work related to the discovery, characterization and use of antimutagenic agents is receiving considerable attention. Moreover, there is an increasing awareness that certain naturally occurring substances in plants and other source have protective effects against environmental mutagens or carcinogens and also endogenous mutagens. Prevention of cancer and other mutation related diseases can be pursued by avoiding exposure to recognized carcinogens or mutagens, by favoring the intake of protective factors and by fortifying physiological defense mechanism. Environmental pollution is associated with increased risk of cancer. The group of chemicals that cause cancer in man and animals are collectively referred to as carcinogens. Many of these substances elicit, apart from their antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties, additional beneficial effects such as activation of the immune system and/or protection against cardiovascular diseases ( Middleton and Kandaswami, 1993). ![]() These bioactive compounds belong to a variety of different chemical groups such as phenolics, pigments, allylsulfides, glucosinolates, tannins, anthocyans, flavonoids, phytosterols, protease inhibitors and phytoestrogens. There are continued efforts all over the world to explore the rich biodiversity of edible as well as medicinal plants and other edible non-toxic plants in pursuit of the most effective phytoantimutagens. Numerous studies have been carried out in last four decades in order to identify compounds that might protect humans against DNA damage and its consequences. Such chemicals that reduce the mutagenicity of physical and chemical mutagens are referred to as antimutagens ( Mitscher et al., 1986). Since, the mutagens are involved in the initiation and promotion of several human diseases, including cancer, the significance of novel bioactive phytocompounds in counteracting these pro-mutagenic and carcinogenic effects is now gaining credence. There is increasing evidence that mutation in somatic cells are not only involved in the carcinogenesis but can also cause genetic disorders like atherosclerosis, heart diseases and several other degenerative disorders ( De Flora et al., 1996). A plethora of synthetic and natural substances, apart from various genotoxic physical and biological agents are known to act as mutagenic, co-carcinogenic and/or carcinogenic agents. Mutations are the cause of innate metabolic defects in cellular systems, triggering morbidity and mortality in living organisms. ![]()
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