Antimutagenicity of a secoisopimarane diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina M. Martens et Galeotti in Ames test and micronucleus assay on cultured human lymphocytes

3,4-Secoisopimar-4(18),7,15-trien-3-oic acid, is a diterpenoid isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia cinnabarina M. Martens et Galeotti (Lamiaceae). Several diterpenoids showed antitumor and/or antimutagenic activity; in particular carnosic acid exhibited antimutagenic activity in the Ames test and in the micronucleus assay. On the basis of these findings, in present study, 3,4-secoisopimar-4(18),7,15-trien-3-oic acid has been evaluated for its potential antimutagenic activity against the genotoxicity induced by known mutagens, in the Ames test and in the micronucleus assay. Data obtained in both assays suggest that 3,4-secoisopimar-4(18),7,15-trien-3-oic acid exerts its antimutagenic effect partly by a direct interaction with DNA and partly by indirect interactions between the substance and the mutagen. At present, further experiments are necessary to better explain the mechanism involved in the antimutagenic activity of 3,4-secoisopimar-4(18),7,15-trien-3-oic acid. Present data can be considered as a starting point for evaluating the protective properties of the diterpenoid and encourage further studies to investigate its potential role as chemopreventer.