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Mutagenicity of nitrite-treated soy sauce in Chinese hamster V79 cells

S Kimura1, K Okazaki, M Higashimoto

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Kochi Medical School, Japan.

The Tokushima Journal of Experimental Medicine
|June 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Nitrite treatment of Japanese soy sauce and tyramine, a precursor, created mutagens. These mutagens increased mutations in Chinese hamster V79 cells in a dose-dependent manner, indicating soy sauce mutagenicity.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Food Chemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Soy sauce contains tyramine, a precursor to the mutagen 3-diazotyramine.
  • Nitrite treatment can convert tyramine into mutagenic compounds.
  • Understanding the mutagenicity of treated soy sauce is crucial for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mutagenicity of four Japanese soy sauce varieties after nitrite treatment.
  • To assess the mutagenic potential of tyramine following nitrite exposure.
  • To quantify the dose-dependent mutagenic effects in a cellular model.

Main Methods:

  • Chinese hamster V79 cells were used as the test system.
  • 6-thioguanine (TG) served as the selective marker for mutations.
  • Cells were exposed to nitrite-treated soy sauce samples and tyramine under controlled conditions (yellow lamp).

Main Results:

  • Nitrite-treated soy sauce significantly increased mutation frequencies in V79 cells.
  • Mutagenic effects of soy sauce were dose-dependent, ranging from 139 to 473 TG-resistant mutants per 10(5) cells/mL.
  • Nitrite-treated tyramine also exhibited mutagenicity, inducing dose-dependent increases in TG-resistant mutants.

Conclusions:

  • Nitrite treatment of Japanese soy sauce generates mutagenic compounds.
  • Tyramine in soy sauce contributes to its mutagenicity after nitrite exposure.
  • The study highlights the potential genotoxic risk associated with nitrite-preserved soy products.

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