Protective Effects of Fruits and Vegetables against In Vivo Clastogenicity of Cyclophosphamide or Benzo[a]pyrene in Mice

Seven fruits and 10 vegetables commonly consumed in Germany were investigated for their anticlastogenic potencies against cyclophosphamide (CP) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. We detected protective effects in 76.5% and 70.6% of the samples, respectively, and more or less distinct quantitative differences between the various plant materials and the two clastogens investigated. With respect to CP, moderate activities were exerted by sweet cherries, strawberries, cucumber, radish and tomatoes, average activities by bananas, oranges, peaches, asparagus and red beets and strong activities by yellow red peppers and especially spinach. Apples (cultiva…