Hashimoto, Y; Shudo, K; Okamoto, T; Nagao, M; Takahashi, Y; Sugimura, T
HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. The mutagenicities of naturally occurring substances in plants are now receiving attention. This paper reports the mutagenicities of 4-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazinones and related compounds. 2,4-Dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxanzinone and 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazinone have been identified as insectistats and antifungal substances. These compounds occur naturally in several cereal plants such as maize, wheat and rye, although it is unknown whether they are constituents of the grains. Their electrophilic activities, mentioned in relation to their antifungal actions, suggested that they might be mutagenic; they did, in fact, have moderately strong mutagenicities. These compounds should not be overlooked during any consideration of naturally occurring mutagens or carcinogens in the environment. The mutation test with Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 was carried out. S-9 Mix was prepared from the liver of rats injected with polychlorinated biphenyl. (The other compounds were: 2-methoxy-4-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazinone; 2,7-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazinone; 4 hydroxy-1,4-benzoxanzinone; 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxanzinone; 4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1,4-benzoxanzinone; 4 hydroxy-6-chloro-1,4-benzoxanzinone; 2-dimethyl-1,4-benzoxazinone; N-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril.)