Paper Title
A Comparative Study On Antimutagenic Potentials Of Methanolic Extracts From Fresh And Processed Seeds Of Helianthus Annuus Grown In Erzurum-Turkey

Abstract
Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower) is one of the most popular agricultural plants around the world and composition of its dehulled seeds varies in accordance with various internal or external factors. The aim of the present study was a comparative analysis of mutagenic and antimutagenic potential of fresh and processed sunflower seeds collected from Erzurum-TURKEY. Ripe sunflowers with brown heads were harvested from the fields in Hasankale-Erzurum for preparing fresh seed samples and they were dried in the shade. Processed seeds were bought from the local supermarkets. The seed materials were powdered and extracted by methanol. Mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of the samples were determined by using AMES/Salmonella and E. coli WP2 bacterial reversion assay systems. The mutagenicity assay results showed that none of the tested methanolic extracts have any mutagenic effect at the tested concentrations ranging from 2 to 10 μg/plate. The antimutagenicity assay result showed that both extracts from fresh and processed seeds have significant antimutagenic activity against NaN3 and 9-AA induced mutagenicity but not against MNNG. The antimutagenicity levels varied from 27% (processed – 8 μg/plate –TA1535) to 92.4% (processed – 8 μg/plate – TA1537). The findings of the present study indicated that the tested sunflower seeds do not have mutagenic activity at the tested concentrations. On the other hand, they have also important antimutagenic activity on NaN3 and 9-AA. Furthermore antimutagenic potential of the seeds on NaN3 can be significantly reduced after processing steps. Keywords- Sunflower seed, Mutagenicity, Antimutagenicity, Bacterial reversion assay.