Ellagic acid peracetate is superior to ellagic acid in the prevention of genotoxicity due to aflatoxin B1 in bone marrow and lung cells

Earlier observations carried out in our laboratory highlighted the mode of action of acetoxy 4-methylcoumarins and quercetin pentaacetate in preventing the genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). We have extended the observation to an acetoxy biscoumarin i.e. ellagic acid peracetate (EAPA), which unlike ellagic acid (EA) has demonstrated time-dependent inhibition of liver microsomes catalysed AFB1-epoxidation as measured by AFB1 binding to DNA. EAPA was more potent than EA in preventing bone marrow and lung cells from AFB1-induced genotoxicity. EAPA was acted upon by microsomal acetoxy drug:protein transacetylase (TAase) leading to modulation of the catalytic activity of certain functional proteins (cytochrome P450, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and glutathione S-transferase), possibly by way of protein acetylation.