title: Genotoxic effects of 2-trans-hexenal in human buccal mucosa cells in vivo.
abstract: In 7 non-smoking healthy volunteers, the number of micronuclei (MN) was determined in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells before and after rinsing the mouth with an aqueous 10 ppm solution of 2-trans-hexenal during 3 consecutive days. All individuals showed at least a doubling of the MN frequency during one of the next 4 days. An increase of the mean group MN frequency was observed on the fourth day, becoming significant between the sixth and the seventh day. During the next 2 days, the MN frequency dropped down to nearly the control level. In a second study, 7 other volunteers were examined before and after eating 3-6 bananas per day over a period of 3 days. The bananas contained about 35 ppm of hexenal. Six of the 7 individuals showed at least a doubling of the MN frequency during one of the next 6 days. An increase in the mean MN counts was also observed, but the difference to the control value become non-significant during the test period. The results show for the first time that the flavoring constituent 2-trans-hexenal, which is present in many human foods exerts genotoxic effects on human buccal mucosa cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dittberner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmetzer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gölzer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eisenbrand
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zankl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000633:toxicity; D006591:Hexobarbital / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; D006591:Hexobarbital