Abstract

This study aimed to determine the phenolic content and antimutagenicity of some legume seeds and seed coats (black bean, mung bean, peanut, red kidney bean and soybean). The raw red kidney bean exhibited the highest phenolic content (103.2 ± 6.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract). The seed coats of black bean, peanut and red kidney bean showed high levels of phenolic content (> 200 mg GAE/g extract). This study also determined the antimutagenicity of legume seeds and seed coats against urethane induced somatic mutation and recombination in Drosophila melanogaster. As a result, legume seeds of red kidney bean showed the highest antimutagenicity (57.2%), followed by peanut (54.0%). Seed coats extracts at the lowest concentration exhibited weak antimutagenic activity (6.2 to 38.8%). The presence of phenolics in the extracts may be responsible for antimutagenicity against urethane. They may induce phase II detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione transferase. Moreover, they may also inhibit specific cytochrome P450s, which in turn leads to protection against mutagenesis by decreasing the metabolic activation of urethane. However, at the highest concentration, all seed coats extracts exhibited a synergistic effect on the mutagenicity of urethane. The finding from this study suggested that the antimutagenic/co-mutagenic activity depends upon the levels of phenolics.

Key words:  Legumes, phenolics, antimutagenicity, somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART), co-mutagenicity.