title: Individual and combined genotoxic response of boric acid and aflatoxin B1 in Escherichia coli PQ37.
abstract: The genotoxic potentials of boric acid in Escherichia coli PQ37 was assessed along in the presence of aflatoxin B1 using SOS chromotest. Boric acid induced beta-galactosidase synthesis on the tester bacteria both on the presence and absence of S9 activation mixture. Therefore, the inorganic acid may not require metabolic activation to be genotoxic for this bacteria. When present together with aflatoxin B1 in the assay medium, boric acid increased the degree of beta-galactosidase synthesis induced by the maximal inducing concentration of aflatoxin B1 before the toxin's activation. However, the degree of enzyme synthesis induced was significantly decreased when boric acid was present after aflatoxin activation. This suggests that boric acid may not interfere with nor block the expoxidation of aflatoxin B1. It may however interact with the expoxide thereby inhibiting its activity. Boric acid may be a genotoxin and could possibly act as a syngenotoxic and/or a cogenotoxic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Odunola
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D001681:Biological Assay; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005503:Food Additives; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001888:Boric Acids; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D005503:Food Additives; D005505:Food Coloring Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C032688:boric acid