Flavor constituents in cola drinks induce hepatic DNA adducts in adult and fetal mice.

Mice given one of several widely consumed cola drinks in place of drinking water for up to 8 weeks developed significant levels of covalent liver DNA adducts in a time dependent manner, as measured by 32P-postlabeling. These adducts were not detected in mice given tap water or one of 3 non-cola beverages. Adducts chromatographically identical to those induced by cola drinks were detected in mice treated with extracts of nutmeg or mace, spices from the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans Houttuyn), or with myristicin (1-allyl-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), the major spice constituent of nutmeg. In addition, small amounts of adducts derived from the hepatocarcinogen safrole (1-allyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), a minor constituent of nutmeg, were observed. Liver DNA adducts were also detected in fetal liver when pregnant mice were intubated with myristicin. Possible implications of these findings for human health are discussed.