[Mutagenicity of the metabolites of the epoxide-diol pathway of safrole and its analogs. Study on Salmonella typhimurium].

Mutagenicity of the metabolites of the expoxide-diol pathway of safrole and analogues was studied on Ames' strains with Ames' method. Safrole, eugenol, eugenolmethylether, estragol, allylbenzene and 1'-hydroxysafrole, are not mutagen on TA 1535, TA 100 (point mutation) and TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 98 (frameshift mutations) without activation system. The corresponding epoxides that we have synthetized, are mutagens and inducers of point mutation in TA 1535 and TA 100. Dose-effect curves show differences between the mutagen efficiencies of these epoxides probably in relation with their electrophilic properties. On the other hand the 2', 3'-dihydro-2',3'-dihydroxisafrole was not mutagen in Ames' test. These results confirm the promutagen character of safrole and analogues and the role of the epoxides as proximate carcinogens.