title: Absence of mutagenicity of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster: comparison with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene.
abstract: The wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the mutagenic potential of three benzo[c]phenanthridines with antileukemic properties, fagaronine, nitidine and O-methylfagaronine, as compared with that of two structurally related aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons: 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and chrysene. Although toxic to larvae, the benzo[c]phenanthridines and chrysene gave negative or inconclusive results while 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was found to be highly mutagenic and recombinogenic as previously reported. These results suggest that the alkoxy groups and the quaternary nitrogen of the benzo[c]-phenanthridines may reduce or eliminate their mutagenicity in spite of their similarity to methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras 00931.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pérez-Chiesa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D002911:Chrysenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D002911:Chrysenes; D009153:Mutagens; D010617:Phenanthridines; C031180:chrysene; C002066:fagaronine; C079007:O-methylfagaronine; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; C013615:nitidine