2-Methylfuran: Toxicity and genotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats

We have measured the toxicity and genotoxicity of 2-methylfuran, which is formed in foods during thermal processing. The agent was administered by oral gavage to male Sprague-Dawley rats, daily for 28 days, before performing general toxicology analysis and the following genotoxicity tests: comet assay (peripheral blood, liver); Pig-a gene mutation assay (peripheral blood); micronucleus test (peripheral blood, bone marrow). Liver was the primary target organ; histological changes (oval cell hyperplasia) were observed but without significant changes in serum enzyme markers. For hepatotoxicity, the no-observed-adverse-effect level was 5 mg/kg bw/d. Histopathological changes were also seen in the bone marrow. Genotoxicity assays were uniformly negative.