XTT (3′-{1-[(phenylamino)-carbonyl]-3, 4-tetrazolium}-bis (methoxy-6-nitro) benzenesulfonic acid hydrate) was reduced by incubated glucosamine hydrochloride. The XTT reducibility by incubated glucosamine was linearly related with the DNA-breaking activity. In order to elucidate the reaction mechanism, the glucosamine derivatives formed during the incubation process were separated by HPLC, and the compound responsible ...