Genotoxic Potential of Shrimp Pastes (Belacan) Extracts Using Umu Test

This study was conducted to observe the genotoxic effects of aqueous, methanol, hexane and dichloromethane extracts of “belacan” (shrimp paste) taken from three local districts in Melaka, Malaysia (Kelemak, Batang Tiga & Pantai Puteri). The umu test which was used as the screening test was conducted with and without the presence of metabolic activation system. Without the presence of metabolic activation system, aqueous extracts from Kelemak showed mutagenicity activity at 5 mg/ml with IR (Induction Rate) = 1.52 ± 0.57 and the methanol extracts showed mutagenic activities at 0.625 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml, which the IR was the highest at 5 mg/ml (2.08 ± 0.09). On the other hand, samples from Batang Tiga, Melaka showed mutagenic effects at all five concentrations for the dichloromethane extract, with IR = 2.09 ± 0.64 as the highest value at 1.25 mg/ml. Methanol extracts also showed positive results at 1.25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml with IR = 1.70 ± 0.33 and IR = 2.12 ± 0.51 respectively, and aqueous extract at 0.625 mg/ml with IR = 1.54 ± 0.48 and 5 mg/ml with IR = 1.74 ± 0.50. There was a significant difference of the mean values of IR between the four different types of “belacan” extracts from Batang Tiga (p < 0.05). All four “belacan” extracts from Pantai Puteri, Melaka did not show any mutagenic effect. With the presence of metabolic activation system, there was no mutagenic effect observed in all four extracts from the three districts. Further study to analyze the contents in the food samples should be done in the future to determine the possible contents in the food samples that might be responsible for the mutagenic activities.