ARS | Publication request: EVALUATION OF CHEMICALS DERIVED FROM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FOR CHEMOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY

Submitted to: Phytochemical Society of North America Meeting and Newsletter
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: New research projects have been initiated to identify naturally occurring chemicals in plants and agricultural products which have biological activity. Following leads from scientific observations reported in the literature, or those observed by our research group, agricultural products will be examined to determine their chemical modes of action. A number of projects are underway. An extract prepared from soybean "soy solubles" left over from the processing of soybeans has been shown to have potent chemoprotective activity in anti-mutagen bioassays. The chemical agent(s) responsible for this are being determined. Initial work indicates that the active agents may be related to either the isoflavonoids or the saponins or both. The extract is being broken down into its chemical components by a series of fractionation steps and the chemical composition will be confirmed by UV absorption, mass spectrometry, and NMR. The chemoprotective activity is being determined by an advanced cell assay, COMET, which measures the ability of added chemicals to protect cell DNA from damage by potent carcinogens.