Applying the Drosophila wing spot test to assess the genotoxic impact of 10 essential oil constituents used as flavouring agents or cosmetic ingredients

Abstract

The genotoxicity of 10 essential oil constituents was evaluated using the Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) somatic mutation and recombination test, also known as the wing spot test, in the frame of a screening project aiming at evaluating the mutagenic activity of widely used substances, natural or not. Of the compounds that we tested here, L-carveol, dihydrocarveol, (+)-dihydrocarvone, (À)-fenchone and (À)-carvyl acetate did not exhibit any mutagenic or recombinogenic activity, whereas (AE)-linalool, S-(+)-carvone and S-(À)-limonene gave inconclusive results. In contrast, a-phellandrene and R-(À)-carvone significantly increased the frequency of mutant spots when compared with the negative control, suggesting mutagenic activity even at the lowest concentration used (1.5ml/ml). Moreover, these data clearly demonstrate differences in activity between stereoisomers such as S-(+)-and R-(À)-carvone. Given that a-phellandrene and R-(À)-carvone are widely used compounds, further research is needed in order to have a better understanding of their activity and a clearer picture of their genotoxicity in order to decide whether they should remain or not in the lists of compounds that are safe to use. Copyright

Evaluation of the Genotoxic and Antigenotoxic Effects of Chios Mastic Water by the In Vitro Micronucleus Test on Human Lymphocytes and the In Vivo Wing Somatic Test on Drosophila

“…To our knowledge there is no data on the genotoxic activity of CMW; nevertheless, one of its major constituents, linalool, with contribution 7.29% [29] was found not to exhibit genotoxic or recombinogenic activity [65]. Moreover, borneol which has low contribution (0.99%) in CMW [29] has been reported not to be genotoxic at low concentrations [61].…”

“…mastic oil), as well as some of their constituents [e.g. linalool, verbenone, α-terpineol, trans- pinocarveol] have received much attention as potentially useful bioactive compounds, with particular emphasis being given to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory or antitumor properties [5]–[29], [58]–[65]. Based on the increasing international interest for mastic products, in the present study, the CMW was evaluated, for the first time, for its potential genotoxic effect as well as its antigenotoxic activity against the DNA damage induced by MMC.…”

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

“…The tested compounds were supplied to Drosophila larvae at concentrations 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 µl/ml. The same concentration range has been previously used to estimate the genotoxicity of 10 essential oil constituents by the same methodology …”

“…In the frame of an ongoing study regarding the safety of plant‐derived compounds, we recently studied 10 essential oil constituents that belong to the group of monoterpenoids . Two of them were found to exhibit mutagenic activity even at low concentrations.…”

“…This led us to continue screening representatives of this chemical group that have wide occurrence and find wide use regarding their ability to induce mutagenic and/or recombinogenic events. In fact, there is a number of studies reporting monoterpenoids with toxic and genotoxic effects or their performance as secondary carcinogens after metabolic activation …”