Preliminary characterization of the mutagenic properties of 'necatorin', a strongly mutagenic compound of the mushroom Lactarius necator.

The mutagenic activity of 'necatorin', a strongly mutagenic compound isolated from the wild edible mushroom Lactarius necator, was studied with the Ames test, the bacterial intraperitoneal host-mediated assay and the micronucleus test. Whereas the results of the Ames tests were clearly positive, no evidence of mutagenicity was detectable in host-mediated assays or micronucleus tests.