Adsorption of mutagens to chlorophyllin-chitosan, an insoluble form of chlorophyllin

Chlorophyllin, a water soluble derivative of chlorophyll, is known to suppress the mutagenic and carcinogenic actions of compounds having polycyclic structures, e.g. heterocyclic amines and aflatoxin B-1. There is evidence that this suppressing effect arises, at least in part, by a complex formation between the porphyrin-like structure of chlorophyllin and the planar molecular surfaces of these compounds. We report here that chlorophyllin can form an insoluble salt-like material when mixed with chitosan, a polyglucosamine, and that the solid chlorophyllin-chitosan thus prepared can efficiently trap polycyclic mutagenic compounds. The adsorbed polycyclic mutagens were elutable with buffers of acidic pH, but only to small extents. Chlorophyllin-chitosan may be expected to be useful as an intercepting agent against polycyclic mutagens and carcinogens. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.