Assessment of the genotoxic potential of essential oil constituents by the Drosophila wing spot test

作者：Mademtzoglou Despoina; Pavlidou Theodora; Bazioti Maria Georgia; Koutsonikou Chrysoula; Lioulia Elisavet; Akmoutsou Paraskevi; Drosopoulou Elena; Vokou Despoina; Mavragani Tsipidou Penelope^*

来源：Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2013, 28(3): 188-194.

DOI：10.1002/ffj.3157

• terpinene
• terpinolene
• (1R)-()-myrtenol
• myrtenyl acetate
• linalyl acetate

The genotoxic activity of 15 essential oil constituents used as flavouring agents or cosmetic ingredients was assessed at four concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 mu l/ml) using the Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) somatic mutation and recombination test, also known as the wing spot test. Ten of the compounds tested here, namely d-neomenthol, nerol, 1-octen-3-ol, -terpineol, neryl acetate, terpinyl acetate, p-cymene, -pinene, -pinene, -terpinene were found free of mutagenic or recombinogenic activity, at the applied concentrations. On the other hand, for (1R)-()-myrtenol and linalyl acetate, weak positive effects were exhibited even at the lowest concentration. For myrtenyl acetate, weakly positive effects were recorded at the high but not at the low concentrations. The two hydrocarbons, -terpinene and terpinolene, showed no genotoxic activity at the low concentrations, but at the high ones they significantly increased the frequency of mutant clones. Results clearly demonstrate differences in activity of positional isomers such as - and -terpinene and terpinolene. Our data suggest the need for re-evaluating the safety of suspect compounds with cross-checked genotoxicity studies and at a range of different concentrations.

• 出版日期2013-5