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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157425
Title: BACTERIAL ANTIMUTAGENESIS BY HYDROXYCINNAMIC ACIDS FROM PLANT CELL WALLS

Author
item FERGUSON, LYNNETTE - U AUCKLAND NZ
item LIM, ISABEL - U AUCKLAND NZ
item PEARSON, AMIRA - U AUCKLAND NZ
item Ralph, John
item HARRIS, PHILIP - U AUCKLAND NZ

Submitted to: Mutation Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2003
Publication Date: 8/26/2003
Citation: Ferguson, L.R., Lim, I.F., Pearson, A.E., Ralph, J., Harris, P.J. Bacterial antimutagenesis by hydroxycinnamic acids from plant cell walls. Mutation Research. 2003. v. 542. p. 49-58.

Interpretive Summary: The health promoting properties of dietary fiber have long been attributed to its polysaccharide composition. It is certainly true that more than 95% of the dietary fiber in Western diets is made up of plant cell walls, and these are predominantly composed of polysaccharides. However, plant cell walls contain other components that may confer on them health promoting properties. In particular, the cell walls of grasses and cereals contain ferulic acid and dehydrodiferulic acids linked to cell wall polysaccharides, together with small amounts of p-coumaric acid. We have determined the abilities of these so-called hydroxycinnamic acids to protect against different types of mutation in a simple bacterial model. The antimutagenic properties were compared with standard compounds. Both the pure hydroxycinnamic acids and crude extracts from the cell walls showed antimutagenic properties. It is known that hydroxycinnamic acids ester-linked to plant cell walls can be released in the human colon by the action of microbial esterases. Providing the current data extrapolate to mammalian cells, they suggest that antimutagenic properties of hydroxycinnamic acids released from plant cell walls could play a role in dietary fiber protection against cancer.

Technical Abstract: We have determined the abilities of (E)-ferulic acid, (E)-p-coumaric acid and (E,E)-5-5-dehydrodiferulic acid to protect against different types of mutation in a simple bacterial model. These antimutagenic properties were compared with those of the related compound curcumin, and also with those of an extract containing hydroxycinnamic acids obtained by the saponification of the cell walls of wheat coleoptiles. Three known mutagens, bleomycin, hydrogen peroxide and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) were used to chemically induce reversion mutation, while the known antimutagen Trolox was used as a positive control. Both the pure hydroxycinnamic acids and the extract from the cell walls showed antimutagenic properties. It is known that hydroxycinnamic acids ester-linked to plant cell walls can be released in the human colon by the action of microbial esterases. Providing the current data extrapolate to mammalian cells, they suggest that antimutagenic properties of hydroxycinnamic acids released from plant cell walls could play a role in dietary fibre protection against cancer.