Antimutagenic and antioxidant properties of phenolic fractions from Andean purple corn (Zea mays L.)

The antimutagenic and antioxidant properties of various phenolic fractions obtained from Andean purple corn were examined by the Ames test and the DPPH antiradical assay. An anthocyanin-rich water fraction (WF) and an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) showed a dose-dependent antimutagenic behavior against the food mutagen Trp-P-1 with IC₅₀ values of 321.7 ± 21.36 and 95.2 ± 10.95 μg of chlorogenic acid equiv/plate, respectively, indicating that EAF was a more potent antimutagen. The antioxidant activities for WF and EAF were 1.019 ± 0.05 and 0.838 ± 0.11 μg of Trolox equiv/ μg of phenolics, respectively. Further fractionation of WF and EAF revealed an ethyl acetate subfraction, EA-IV, with high antimutagen potency that contained a quercetin derivative. The mechanism of antimutagenic action of the WF is predominantly a blocking effect on the S-9 Mix activation system of the mutagen, whereas for the EAF, it is a dual mechanism involving blocking of the S-9 Mix and a scavenging action on Trp-P-1 electrophiles.