Mutagenicity testing of selected analgesics in Ames Salmonella strains

Acetaminophen (APAP), aspirin (ASA), phenacetin (PA) and ibuprofen (IB) were tested for mutagenic activity in the Ames Salmonella plate incorporation assay using strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538. These analgesics were tested in four separate tests: without metabolic activation, and in the presence of a rat, hamster or mouse liver post-mitochondrial supernatant (S-9, Aroclor 1254-induced). Treatment of all five strains of Salmonella with APAP, ASA or IB under all four metabolic conditions did not induce any appreciable increases in revertant colony counts, as compared to the negative controls. A dose-related increase in revertant colony counts, reaching levels twice the negative control values, were seen with PA at doses greater than or equal to 500 micrograms per plate. This response was only seen in strain TA100 in the presence of hamster S-9. Therefore, these findings constitute a positive result for PA in the Ames test. APAP, ASA and IB did not show any mutagenic potential under these conditions of testing. These findings are discussed along with previously published results concerning the genotoxicity of these analgesics.     

Screening of tabacco smoke constituents for mutagenicity using the Ames' test

To clarify the mutagenic activity of individual smoke components, 239 compounds, representative of the gaseous and semivolatile phases of tobacco smoke, were assayed for mutagenicity towards 4 histidine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535 and TA 1537). All compounds were tested qualitatively both with and without metabolic activation using a liver fraction (S-9) from Aroclor 1254 or methylcholanthrene induced rats. Without S-9, only 2,3-dimethylindole and 2,3,5-trimethylindole showed mutagenic activity that was not enhanced by hte metabolic activation system. 2,6-Diaminotoluene and coronene, which like the above compounds are not documented carcinogens were found to be mutagenic for strain TA 98 with S-9. Mutagenic activity was also observed for the previously known mutagens benz[a]pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]-anthracene, perylene and β-naphthylamine, on exposure to strains TA 98 and/or TA 100 with S-9.     

Mutagenicity of structurally related aromatic amines in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome test with various S-9 fractions

The related monocyclic aromatic amines 2,4-diaminoanisole (DAA), 2,4-diaminopropoxybenzene (DAPB) and 2,4-diaminobutoxybenzene (DABB) were tested for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 1538, using S-9 fractions from livers, kidneys and spleens of male Wistar rats for metabolic activation. In the presence of an uninduced liver S-9 fraction, DAA was weakly mutagenic (a two- or threefold increase), and the other compounds were negative. Uninduced S-9 preparations from kidney, spleen or a mixture of kidney, spleen and liver homogenates did not activate any of the compounds. On the other hand, S-9 fractions from rat liver induced with Aroclor 1254 or with a combination of phenobarbital and 5,6-benzoflavone activated both DAA and DAPB, DAA being by far the more mutagenic of the two. S-9 preparations from mixed liver, kidney and spleen homogenates from animals pretreated with Aroclor or with phenobarbital and 5,6-benzoflavone were less effective than the liver homogenates. Aroclor-induced S-9 fractions from kidneys slightly activated DAA, but S-9 fractions from spleen were ineffective in all cases. The mutagenicity ranking of the aromatic amines was DAA greater than DAPB greater than DABB. The latter compound caused little or no increase over the control numbers of revertant colonies. The order of effectiveness of inducers was Aroclor 1254 greater than phenobarbital + 5,6-benzoflavone greater than no inducer, and that of preparations from different organs was liver greater than mixture of liver, kidney and spleen greater than kidney greater than spleen.     

Activation of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens by microsomal preparations from different animal species: role of cytochrome P-450 and P-448

1. The metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens was studied with liver microsomal preparations from rat, guinea-pig, hamster and mouse, untreated or pretreated with phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. 2. Liver microsomal preparations from all animal species activated benzo(a)pyrene, that from mouse being the most efficient. Similarly, microsomal preparations from guinea-pig, hamster and mouse could activate 2-acetamidofluorene, but that from rat exhibited very weak activity. 3. Activation of benzo(a)pyrene into mutagenic intermediates by liver microsomal preparations was increased for all animals except mouse by pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. In contrast, pretreatment with phenobarbitone decreased the activation by microsomal preparations from all species. 4. Activation of 2-acetamidofluorene by liver microsomal preparations from rat and guinea-pig, but not mouse and hamster, was increased by pretreatment of the animals with phenobarbitone. Pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene decreased the activation of this carcinogen by microsomal preparations from all species. 5. The metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene is catalysed by cytochrome P-448 but not cytochrome P-450. 6. The activation of 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens may involve, in addition to the mixed-function oxidases, other microsomal enzyme systems.     

Mutagenicity evaluation of azaperone in the Salmonella/microsome test

Azaperone was evaluated for its mutagenic potential by the Salmonella/microsome test. No mutagenic activity towards six S. typhimurium strains could be evidenced with azaperone at doses up to 2,000 micrograms/plate, either without or with metabolic activation at usual test conditions. Higher concentrations of liver post-mitochondrial fraction from Aroclor 1254 (ARO)-pretreated rats did not reveal any increase in the number of revertants towards S. typhimurium strains TA1537, TA1538 and TA98. Moreover, a plate-incorporation test with liver post-mitochondrial fractions from mice pretreated with phenobarbital (PB) and a liquid preincubation test with liver post-mitochondrial fractions from rats pretreated with ARO also failed to reveal any mutagenic action of azaperone towards S. typhimurium strain TA98. Thus, none of the tests used provided any indication of azaperone having a mutagenic action.     

Monitoring the rivers Rhine and Meuse in the Netherlands for mutagenic activity using the Ames test in combination with rat or fish liver homogenates

Organic concentrates of water of the rivers Rhine and Meuse and a control lake were tested for mulagenic activity with the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay at 3-mth intervals for more than 1 yr. The river samples were concentrated by adsorption on XAD (10³-fold) followed by elution with DMSO.Using strain TA 98, all Rhine water samples except one were found to contain both direct and indirect mutagens. No significant mutagenic activity was detected in the lake samples and most of the river Meuse samples. None of the samples were shown to be mutagenic when tested with strains TA 100 or TA 1535.On examining one Rhine location more frequently, the mutagenic activity was found to be persistent and to vary about 5- to 6-fold during one year.Finally, liver homogenates of bream (Abramis brama) from these waters were compared with the standard rat liver S-9 with regard to their ability to activate the indirect mutagens present in the water concentrates. Compared with the rat liver homogenates, the liver homogenates of Rhine fish were found to be equally active and those of Meuse fish somewhat less. No metabolic activation was observed with liver homogenates of the lake fish.     

Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity studies of tannic acid and its related compounds.

Tannic acid and its hydrolysed products such as ellagic acid, gallic acid and propyl gallate were tested for mutagenicities using Ames Salmonella tester strains TA98 and TA100. Also, the antimutagenic activities of these compounds against a number of direct mutagens including 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF), 4,4'-dinitro-2-biphenylamine, 1-nitropyrene, 1,3-dinitropyrene, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine, 3-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine were tested. None of these tannic acid compounds was mutagenic. They also failed to show antimutagenic activity towards the tested direct mutagens. However, tannic acid at non-growth inhibitory concentrations reduced the revertant numbers of TA98 in the presence of S9 mix when benzidine, 3,3'-4,4'-tetraminobiphenyl, 4-aminobiphenyl, and N,N-N', N'-tetramethylbenzidine were used as the mutagens. These results suggest that tannic acid, but not its hydrolytic products, affects the metabolic activation of these mutagens.     

The mutagenicity of butadiene towards salmonella typhimurium

Gaseous butadiene (BUT) was mutagenic towards S. typhimurium strain TA 1530 when the incubation mixture was supplemented with a NADPH-fortified rat liver microsomal preparation; mutagenicity increased with the dose.A significant mutagenic effect was similarly observed when the petri dishes, containing the bacteria but no metabolic activation system, were incubated in the presence of butadiene, in a desiccator in which plates containing the S-9 rat liver fraction had been placed. This indirect mutagenic effect was attributed to the formation, by the S-9 mix, of volatile intermediate(s) that migrated and induced mutations in neighbouring bacteria.     

Influence of rat lung and liver homogenates on the mutagenicity of diesel exhaust particulate extracts

Diesel exhaust particles collected from an automobile operated on a chassis dynomometer were extracted with dichloromethane and evaluated for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium. The extracts were mutagenic to strains TA-100, TA-98, TA-1538, and TA-1537 and contained both direct and indirect-acting mutagens. The promutagens in the extract were activated by the addition of Aroclor 1254 induced and uninduced rat liver S-9, but not uninduced lung S-9. All three S-9 preparations, as well as Aroclor induced liver S-9 without NADP, bovine serum albumin, and fetal calf serum, significantly decreased the direct mutagenicity in TA-100 suggesting that protein binding of mutagenic components was at least partially responsible. Results of studies using the mixed-function oxidase inhibitor SKF 525-A suggest a minor role of metabolism in detoxifying mutagens in the extract. The inability of lung S-9 to activate promutagens in the extract and protein binding of direct-acting mutagens may be important modifying factors to consider in estimating the potential human inhalation health hazards of diesel particulate exhaust emissions.     

Mutagenicity Evaluation of Azaperone in the Salmonella/Microsome Test

ABSTRACT

Azaperone was evaluated for its mutagenic potential by the Salmonella/microsome test. No mutagenic activity towards six S. typhimurium strains could be evidenced with azaperone at doses up to 2,000 µg/plate, either without or with metabolic activation at usual test conditions. Higher concentrations of liver post-mitochondrial fraction from Aroclor 1254 (ARO)-pretreated rats did not reveal any increase in the number of revertants towards S. typhimurium strains TA1537, TA1538 and TA98. Moreover, a plate-incorporation test with liver post-mitochondrial fractions from mice pretreated with phenobarbital (PB) and a liquid preincubation test with liver post-mitochondrial fractions from rats pretreated with ARO also failed to reveal any mutagenic action of azaperone towards S. typhimurium strain TA98. Thus, none of the tests used provided any indication of azaperone having a mutagenic action.     

Evaluation, using Salmonella typhimurium, of the mutagenicity of seven chemicals found in cosmetics

Six chemicals used as ingredients in cosmetics were evaluated for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium. Two of these ingredients, trans-4-phenyl-3-butene-2-one and 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, were mutagenic in the presence of rat liver S-9 towards strains TA100 and TA1537 respectively. An impurity found in some cosmetic products, N-nitrosodiethanolamine, was mutagenic to S. typhimurium stains TA1535 and TA100 in the presence of hamster-liver S-9 but not rat-liver S-9.     

Mutagenicity tests of cashewnut shell liquid, rice-bran oil and other vegetable oils using the Salmonella typhimurium/microsome system

In view of the shortage of edible oils in India, nutritional and toxicological evaluations have been carried out on some unconventional oils to determine whether they might be safe for human consumption. As part of these evaluations, eight unconventional oils were tested by the Ames mutagenicity assay, using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 with and without metabolic activation with S-9 mix prepared from the livers of rats pretreated with sodium phenobarbitone or Aroclor 1254. Of the oils tested, metsa oil (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and cashewnut shell liquid were mutagenic with and without metabolic activation with S-9 of either source. No mutagenic activity (with or without S-9 of either source) was observed with any of the other oils tested (rice-bran oil, Cleome viscosa oil, mango-kernel oil, mahua oil, kapok oil and neem oil).     

In vitro antimutagenicity of curcumin against environmental mutagens

The effects of curcumin, the yellow pigment of the spice, turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the mutagenicity of several environmental mutagens were investigated in the Salmonella/microsome test with or without Aroclor 1254-induced rat-liver homogenate (S-9 mix). With Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 in the presence of S-9 mix, curcumin inhibited the mutagenicity of bidi and cigarette smoke condensates, tobacco and masheri extracts, benzo[a]pyrne and dimethyl benzo[a]anthracene in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin did not influence the mutagenicity without S-9 mix of sodium azide, monoacetylhydrazine and streptozocin in strain TA100 nor of 4-nitrophenylenediamine in strain TA98. Our observations indicate that curcumin may alter the metabolic activation and detoxification of mutagens.     

Mutagenicity of cysteine and penicillamine and its enantiomeric selectivity

We previously observed that postmitochondrial supernatant (S9) from rat liver and kidney homogenates transforms L-cysteine into a mutagen that reverts bacteria of the strain Salmonella typhimurium TA100 to histidine independence. In the present study the enantiomers of cysteine and penicillamine (beta, beta-dimethylcysteine) have been investigated for mutagenicity. The Salmonella typhimurium strain TA92 was found to be more sensitive than TA100 to the mutagenic action of L-cysteine and was therefore also included. This strain allowed the unambiguous realization of a (weak) mutagenic effect of L-cysteine even in the absence of mammalian enzyme preparations. D-cysteine did not show mutagenicity under any experimental conditions. However, it was strongly bacteriotoxic. On the other hand, both enantiomers of penicillamine exerted clear mutagenic effects. Qualitatively, their mutagenicity was similar to that of L-cysteine in the following respects: the penicillamines were directly mutagenic, their mutagenicity was enhanced by S9, kidney S9 enhanced the mutagenicity more than did liver S9, TA92 was more sensitive than TA100. Thereby it is noteworthy that the ratios of the specific mutagenicities in the two strains were virtually identical in the direct, kidney-S9-mediated and liver-S9-mediated tests suggesting that the ultimate mutagens under these different metabolic conditions were identical. On the other hand, substantial quantitative differences in the mutagenicity between the beta-thiol amino acids were observed. L-penicillamine was about eight times more mutagenic than the clinically used enantiomer, D-penicillamine. In the direct tests, the mutagenic potency of L-cysteine was equal to that of D-penicillamine. In the S9-mediated experiments, the mutagenic potency of L-cysteine was intermediate between those of L- and D-penicillamine.     

Mutagenicity of deep-frying fat, and evaluation of urine mutagenicity after consumption of fried potatoes

Mutagen formation during deep-frying was evaluated using standard frying conditions. Portions of pre-fried, sliced potatoes were fried in a commercial brand of hydrogenated vegetable frying fat, which was used repeatedly and for a prolonged period of time. Concentrations of polar oxidation and degradation products, and of dimeric and polymeric triglycerides, were found to increase in the frying fat as well as in fried potatoes with prolonged use of the fat. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were detectable neither in the frying fat nor in the fried potatoes. Polar fractions of repeatedly used frying fat significantly increased the number of revertants in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA97 without S-9 mix. In the presence of S-9 mix mutagenic activity was reduced. As a consequence of ongoing formation of polar degradation and oxidation products, the mutagenicity of the fat increased after repeated use. Polar fractions of lipids extracted from commercially obtained pre-fried potatoes, as well as from fried potatoes, marginally increased the number of revertants in strain TA97 without S-9 mix. The mutagenicity of the lipid fractions of fried potatoes was not related to the heating time of the fat. Methanol extracts of fat-free residues of fried potatoes significantly increased numbers of revertants in strain TA97 after metabolic activation, which indicated that a different class of mutagens had been isolated. The mutagenicity of methanol extracts was not increased after either prolonged or repeated use of the fat. Urine samples of six healthy, non-smoking volunteers, collected during the 24 hr following consumption of portions of potatoes fried in repeatedly used fat, showed no increase in mutagenicity compared with control samples. Since the exact identity of mutagens formed during deep-frying, as well as their metabolic fate in man, is unclear at present, evaluation of possible adverse biological effects associated with consumption of fried foods will require strictly controlled metabolic studies.     

Influence of liver S-9 preparations from rats and rainbow trout on the activity of four mutagens

The mutagenicity of four chemical compounds to strain TA100 of S. typhimurium was affected differently by liver S-9 preparations from untreated Sprague-Dawley rats and from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). These two species were equally effective in decreasing the direct mutagenicity of sodium dichromate. Rat preparations were totally inactive and trout preparations were slightly active in producing mutagenic metabolites from benzo(a)pyrene (BP). Conversely, rat homogenates were significantly more efficient in activating aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and, in particular, 2-aminofluorene (2-AF).     

Mutagenicity of some monoaromatic hydroxamic acids

The mutagenicity of some monoaromatic hydroxamic acids was tested in the presence and absence of rat liver S-9 with Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100. Of the five N-(chlorophenyl)-substituted hydroxamic acids and seven N-arylformohydroxamic acids tested, 2 of the first and 4 of the latter series were mutagenic to both strains upon metabolic activation. None of the four N-acetyl-type hydroxamic acids was mutagenic to either strain, even upon activation. Because some of the N-acetyl-derived hydroxamic acids were inactive, whereas the same aromatic nucleus possessing a formyl group displayed significant activity, a consideration of the nature of the aryl group in hydroxamic acid mutagenicity is important.     

Mutagenicity studies on N-nitrosated products of the Maillard browning reaction: N-nitroso-fructose-amino acids

The N-nitroso derivatives of D-fructose-L-glycine, D-fructose-L-alanine, D-fructose-L-phenylalanine, D-fructose-L-serine, Dfructose-L-aspartic acid and D-fructose-L-tryptophan (a mixture of alpha-N-nitroso-D-fructose-L-tryptophan and 'indolyl-nitrosamine'-D-fructose-L-tryptophan) were tested for mutagenicity in five auxotrophic strains of Salmonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activation (S-9 mix). The alanine, phenylalanine and aspartic acid compounds were not mutagenic. The glycine and serine compounds showed a very low but reproducible increase in the numbers of his+ revertants in strain TA1535 without S-9 mix. The mixture containing both nitrosated D-fructose-L-tryptophan compounds was mutagenic in all five strains, with or without metabolic activation. The alpha-N-nitroso-D-fructose-L-tryptophan component of the mixture, which is nitrosated at the amino group, was isolated and tested without S-9 mix. It was mutagenic in three strains. Unnitrosated D-fructose-L-amino acids, D-fructose, and the individual L-amino acids were non-mutagenic when tested under those conditions for which a positive response had been obtained with the corresponding nitrosated compounds. These results indicate the potential value of developing analytical methods to identify alpha-N-nitroso-D-fructose-L-tryptophan in food or food extracts that are to be screened for mutagenic components.     

Mutagen formation in the reaction of maillard browning products, 2-acetylpyrrole and its analogues, with nitrite

Three 2-substituted pyrroles (2-acetylpyrrole, pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid), which are products of the Maillard browning reaction, were reacted with nitrite in buffer solution (pH 3) at 50°C for 24 hr. The reaction mixtures were extracted with methylene chloride and the extracts were tested for mutagenicity using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA104, with and without S-9 metabolic activation. The methylene chloride extract of the 2-acetylpyrrole-nitrite reaction mixture showed strong mutagenicity to all the tester strains, both in the presence and absence of S-9 mix. The reaction product of pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde with nitrite only gave a weak mutagenic response with strain TA100, while the pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid-nitrite reaction product did not produce a mutagenic response in any of the tester strains. Two mutagenically active fractions, separated by thin-layer chromatography, were found in the reaction of 2-acetylpyrrole with nitrite. The formation of mutagenic products in the latter reaction was found to vary with reaction pH, time and temperature, with nitrite level and with 2-acetylpyrrole concentration.