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Some Natural Chemical Antioxidants: Functions And Genetic Effects

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Simulation and Assessment of Chemical Processes in a Multiphase Environment

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Functions and effects of natural substances are numerous and diverse. Some of these functions are investigated carefully but others are unknown. From genetic point of view the most interesting substances among natural chemicals are antioxidants such as melanin, melatonin and tocopherol. These substances genetic effects were investigated in cultured human cells (lymphocytes, keratinocytes) with tests of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei. It was shown that all investigated chemicals had no mutagenic effect on cultured human cells. Addition of melanin, melatonin or α-tocopherol to the culture medium before irradiation significantly reduced chromosomal aberration and micronucleus frequencies induced by gamma-rays. Thus natural antioxidants such as melanin, melatonin and α-tocopherol are able to protect genetic structures against mutagenic action of ionizing radiation besides their other diverse functions.

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  1. Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Institute of Genetics and Cytology National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Akademicheskaya, Minsk, 27, 220072, Belarus

    I. B. Mosse & P. M. Marozik

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  1. I. B. Mosse
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  2. P. M. Marozik
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Correspondence to I. B. Mosse .

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  1. FBC - Physical Chemistry Department, Bergische University Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

    I. Barnes

  2. Dnepropetrovsk State Agrarian University, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine

    M. M. Kharytonov

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Mosse, I.B., Marozik, P.M. (2008). Some Natural Chemical Antioxidants: Functions And Genetic Effects. In: Barnes, I., Kharytonov, M.M. (eds) Simulation and Assessment of Chemical Processes in a Multiphase Environment. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8846-9_34

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