Studies on the mutagenicity of resorcinol and hydroxy-3-(p-amino)anilino-6,N-[(p-amino)phenol]benzoquinone-monoimine-1,4 in Salmonella typhimurium.

The hair-dye coupler resorcinol and the oxidation product of p-phenylenediamine d resorcinol, hydroxy-3-(p-amino)anilino-6,N-[(p-amino)phenol]benzoquinonemonoimine-1.4, were tested for mutagenicity in the histidine-requiring mutants of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538 and TA98). The investigations were carried out in the absence and presence of rat-liver homogenate induced by Aroclor 1254 and the components of the NADPH-generating system. There was no indication of mutagenic activity by these 2 compounds at any of the 8 concentrations used. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the reaction product of p-phenylenediamine and resorcinol was recorded and is in agreement with its chemical structure.