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Production of a mutagen from ponceau 3R by a human intestinal anaerobe
Infection and Immunity
|March 1, 1979
Abstract:
Ponceau 3R was reduced in vitro by Fusobacterium sp. 2, a human intestinal anaerobe, to a product which is mutagenic when metabolically activated by liver S9 preparations in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome mutagenicity test. This mutagenic metabolite has been identified as 2,4,5-trimethylaniline.
Insights
The food dye Ponceau 3R can be converted by gut bacteria into a mutagenic compound. This metabolite, 2,4,5-trimethylaniline, becomes carcinogenic after activation by liver enzymes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
- Food Science
Background:
- Ponceau 3R is a widely used synthetic food dye.
- The human gut microbiome can metabolize various xenobiotics, potentially altering their toxicity.
- Assessing the mutagenicity of food dye metabolites is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro metabolic fate of Ponceau 3R by human intestinal bacteria.
- To determine if Ponceau 3R metabolites exhibit mutagenic properties.
- To identify the mutagenic metabolite formed from Ponceau 3R.
Main Methods:
- In vitro reduction of Ponceau 3R by Fusobacterium sp. 2.
- Salmonella/mammalian-microsome mutagenicity assay (Ames test) with liver S9 activation.
- Chemical identification of the mutagenic metabolite using analytical techniques.
Main Results:
- Fusobacterium sp. 2 reduced Ponceau 3R to a novel product.
- This product was mutagenic in the Ames test following metabolic activation by liver S9.
- The mutagenic metabolite was identified as 2,4,5-trimethylaniline.
Conclusions:
- Gut bacteria like Fusobacterium sp. 2 can transform Ponceau 3R into a mutagen.
- The identified metabolite, 2,4,5-trimethylaniline, poses a potential mutagenic risk upon metabolic activation.
- Further research is warranted on the toxicological implications of gut microbial metabolism of food dyes.