In vitro antigenotoxic activity of novel ginseng saponin metabolites formed by intestinal bacteria

Ginseng saponin metabolites produced by human intestinal bacteria were evaluated for antigenotoxic properties by testing their effects on benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-induced mutagenicity and clastogenicity. They include 20-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-901), 20-O-[alpha-D-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-902) and 20-O-[alpha-D-arabinofuranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-903). IH-901, IH-902 and IH-903 inhibited the mutagenicity of B[a]P in a dose-dependent manner. In the chromosome aberration assay, IH-901 and IH-903 reduced the frequency of chromosome aberration induced by B[a]P. These results suggest that the ginseng saponin metabolites tested in the present study have potential as chemopreventive agents.