An evaluation of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of quinacrine.

The ability of a number of prediction systems was examined to determine how well they could predict Salmonella mutagenicity. The prediction systems included two computer-based systems (CASE and TOPKAT), the measurement of a physiochemical parameter (ke) and the use of structural alerts by an expert chemist. The computer-based systems operators and the chemist were supplied with the structures o...

Butachlor is the most commonly used herbicide in Taiwan and many other countries. It has been reported to be an indirect mutagen and carcinogen in various in vitro assay systems. Previous investigation has also demonstrated that butachlor stimulates cell proliferation, transforms normal embryonic cells, and induces stomach tumors in Spraque-Dawley rats. However, the mechanism of butachlor carci...

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) was evaluated as an antimutagen in the Ames Salmonella tester strain assay. Taurine inhibited mutagenesis by doxorubicin (-74%), bleomycin (-55%), mitomycin C (-56%), and 2-aminofluorene (-52%), but not danthrone or benzo(a)pyrene, in strain TA102. In strain TA98, doxorubicin mutagenicity, but not that of 2-aminofluorene or benzo(a)pyrene, was inhibited by t...

A cup of coffee contains mutagens which produce about 5 X 10(4)-10(5) revertants of Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 without S9 mix. One of the mutagens was identified to be methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal was present in various beverages such as black tea, whisky, and brandy. Methylglyoxal itself induced tumors in rats when administered by subcutaneous injection. However, the mutagenic properties of...

5-Hydroxymethyluracil (HmUra) is formed from thymine in DNA through the action of ionizing radiation or reactive oxygen species generated by activated leukocytes. HmUra is removed from DNA by a specific DNA glycosylase, suggesting that it is also formed from endogenously generated reactive oxygen species and that its formation in DNA is potentially deleterious. To determine whether HmUra residu...

The intentional and accidental discharges of toxic pollutants into the lithosphere results in soil contamination. In some cases (e.g., wood preserving wastes, coal-tar, airborne combustion by-products), the contaminated soil constitutes a genotoxic hazard. This work is a comprehensive review of published information on soil mutagenicity. In total, 1312 assessments of genotoxic activity from 118...