Lack of genotoxicity of menthol in chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange assays using human lymphocytes in vitro.
The possible genotoxic effect of menthol was investigated by analysing the frequencies of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes exposed to menthol. Phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures grown in the presence of menthol at final concentrations of 0.1, 1 or 10 mm, with or without S-9, had frequencies of polyploid cells and structural chromosomal aberrations similar to those seen in the solvent controls. Furthermore, menthol, either in the presence or absence of S-9, did not alter the SCE frequency in human chromosomes. These results suggest that menthol does not have a chromosomal-damaging effect in human lymphocytes.
Murthy
P B
PB
Department of Toxicology, Frederick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology, Padappai-601 301, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ahmed
M M
MM
Regu
K
K