Evaluation of eugenol for mutagenicity by the mouse micronucleus test.

Mutagenicity of eugenol (2-methoxy-4-allylphenol) was evaluated by an in vivo eukaryotic assay in mice. A 50% lethal dose (LD50) for intraperitoneal (IP) delivery of eugenol was found to be 1109.6 mg/kg body weight (7.5% eugenol-in-saline). Oral (PO) delivery via stainless-steel, esophageal cannulation was not lethal to 14,794 mg/kg body weight (100%) eugenol. Based upon recommended procedure, 80 and 25% LD50 doses were administered IP in 250 microliter volumes. Undiluted eugenol was administered PO in 100 microliter volumes. Delivery of eugenol by both regimes to male mice induced anaphase mutations in polychromatic erythrocytes as measured by the bone marrow micronucleus test. IP delivery of both doses induced the formation of micronuclei to significant levels (P less than 0.001) compared to saline controls. PO delivery of eugenol induced a much reduced frequency of micronuclei when compared to the IP route. However, a significant increase in micronuclei was evident when this test population was compared to its control group (P less than 0.003). These results suggest that eugenol presents some mutagenic capacity in eukaryotic hosts and should be evaluated for further toxicological effects.