Antimutagenic Effects of Benzaldehyde and Its Derivatives on Mutagenesis Induced by 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide in Escherichia coli

Abstract

The bio-antimutagenic potential of benzaldehyde and its derivatives was investigated on mutagenesis induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) in Escherichia coli WP2s uvrA trpE. Benzaldehyde and 18 kinds of hydroxy-, methoxy-, or ethoxybenzaldehydes other than 3,4-diethoxybenzaldehyde decreased the induced mutation frequency by 42 to 91%. Among these compounds, strong bio-antimutagenic effects were observed for vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde), vanillal (3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde), protocatechualdehyde (3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde), 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, o-anisaldehyde (o-methoxybenzaldehyde), and m-anisaldehyde. On the other hand, benzyl alcohol or benzoic acid analogues such as vanillyl alcohol, vanillic acid, isovanillic acid, and veratric acid did not show any bio-antimutagenic effects. These observations suggest that the aldehyde radical is important for bio-antimu'tagenic activity.