New Data from National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Illuminate Findings in Foodborne Diseases and Conditions (Piper Auritum Ethanol Extract Is a Potent Antimutagen Against Food-borne Aromatic Amines: Mechanisms of Action and Chemical...).

New data from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) reveals that an ethanol extract of Piper auritum leaves (PAEE) can inhibit the mutagenic effect of three food-borne aromatic amines. The extract was found to inhibit the mutagenicity of the amines by interacting with them directly and inhibiting the activity of Cytochrome P450 (CYP). The main components of the extract were identified as safrole, alpha-copaene, caryophyllene, beta-pinene, gamma-terpinene, and pentadecane. This study suggests that PAEE and safrole can inhibit the activation of heterocyclic amines, partly by inhibiting the activity of the CYP1A subfamily. [Extracted from the article]