Production of a mutagen from ponceau 3R by a human intestinal anaerobe

Mutagenicity of azo dyes: structure-activity relationships

Azo dyes are extensively used in textile, printing, leather, paper making, drug and food industries. Following oral exposure, azo dyes are metabolized to aromatic amines by intestinal microflora or liver azoreductases. Aromatic amines are further metabolized to genotoxic compounds by mammalian microsomal enzymes. Many of these aromatic amines are mutagenic in the Ames Salmonella/microsomal assay system. The chemical structure of many mutagenic azo dyes was reviewed, and we found that the biologically active dyes are mainly limited to those compounds containing p-phenylenediamine and benzidine moieties. It was found that for the phenylenediamine moiety, methylation or substitution of a nitro group for an amino group does not decrease mutagenicity. However, sulfonation, carboxylation, deamination, or substitution of an ethyl alcohol or an acetyl group for the hydrogen in the amino groups leads to a decrease in the mutagenic activity. For the benzidine moiety, methylation, methoxylation, halogenation or substitution of an acetyl group for hydrogen in the amino group does not affect mutagenicity, but complexation with copper ions diminishes mutagenicity. The mutagenicity of benzidine or its derivatives is also decreased when in the form of a hydrochloride salt with only one exception. Mutagenicity of azo dyes can, therefore, be predicted by these structure-activity relationships.

The reduction of azo dyes by the intestinal microflora

Azo dyes are widely used in the textile, printing, paper manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and food industries and also in research laboratories. When these compounds either inadvertently or by design enter the body through ingestion, they are metabolized to aromatic amines by intestinal microorganisms. Reductive enzymes in the liver can also catalyze the reductive cleavage of the azo linkage to produce aromatic amines. However, evidence indicates that the intestinal microbial azoreductase may be more important than the liver enzymes in azo reduction. In this article, we examine the significance of the capacity of intestinal bacteria to reduce azo dyes and the conditions of azo reduction. Many azo dyes, such as Acid Yellow, Amaranth, Azodisalicylate, Chicago Sky Blue, Congo Red, Direct Black 38, Direct Blue 6, Direct Blue 15, Direct Brown 95, Fast Yellow, Lithol Red, Methyl Orange, Methyl Red, Methyl Yellow, Naphthalene Fast Orange 2G, Neoprontosil, New Coccine, Orange II, Phenylazo-2-naphthol, Ponceau 3R, Ponceau SX, Red 2G, Red 10B, Salicylazosulphapyridine, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, and Trypan Blue, are included in this article. A wide variety of anaerobic bacteria isolated from caecal or fecal contents from experimental animals and humans have the ability to cleave the azo linkage(s) to produce aromatic amines. Azoreductase(s) catalyze these reactions and have been found to be oxygen sensitive and to require flavins for optimal activity. The azoreductase activity in a variety of intestinal preparations was affected by various dietary factors such as cellulose, proteins, fibers, antibiotics, or supplementation with live cultures of lactobacilli.

Intestinal microflora: metabolism of drugs and carcinogens

The intestinal microflora are capable of performing a wide variety of metabolic transformations. The digestive tract can be exposed to orally ingested, bile excreted, or blood-borne exogenous and endogenous substances that can be converted by the intestinal flora into carcinogens, mutagens, cocarcinogens or tumor promoting agents. In addition, the intestinal microflora can metabolize a wide variety of pharmacological agents resulting in production of metabolites required for the physiological activity of these agents or conversely in the inactivation of these agents. This article reviews the current knowledge of the relationship between the intestinal microflora and the metabolic reactions leading to the transformation of drugs and the production of mutagenic or carcinogenic compounds. The composition and distribution of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract is discussed and the type of reactions these bacteria perform is summarized. The conversion of specific substrates such as, rutin, digoxin, cycasin, azulfidine and cyclamate are discussed and the physiological implication of these conversions are presented.

The Salmonella typhimurium/mammalian microsomal assay. A report of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gene-Tox Program

The Salmonella assay has been in use for almost 15 years and can be defined as a routine test for mutagenicity and for predicting potential carcinogenicity. It detects the majority of animal carcinogens and consequently plays an important role in safety assessment. The test is also routinely used as the frontline screen for environmental samples (complex mixtures) isolated from air, water and food. This role will continue to remain an area of growth as or because sample volumes associated with these testing areas are generally very limited and more extensive testing is generally impossible. While this test, like all others, has some limitations, it is recommended that it be regularly included in all genetic testing batteries.

The effect of diet on the mammalian gut flora and its metabolic activities

The review will encompass the following points: A brief introduction to the role of the gut flora in the toxicology of ingested food components, contaminants, and additives, including known pathways of activation and detoxication of foreign compounds and the implication of the flora in enterohepatic circulation of xenobiotics. The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of studying the gut flora (classical bacteriological techniques, metabolic and enzymological methods) will be critically discussed with special reference to their relevance to dietary, toxicological, and biochemical studies. Sources of nutrients available to the gut flora will be described including host products (mucus, sloughed mucosal cells, hormones, proteins) and exogenous nutrients derived from diet. An account of the problems involved in studies of dietary modification with special reference to the use of stock laboratory animal diets, purified diets, and human dietary studies. The influence of dietary modification on the flora will be assessed on the basis of changes in numbers and types of bacteria and their metabolic activity, drawing on data from human and animal studies. The effects of manipulation of the quantity and quality of protein, fat, and indigestible residues (fiber) of the diet will be described together with their possible implications for toxicity of ingested compounds.

Mutagenicity of benzidine and benzidine-congener dyes and selected monoazo dyes in a modified Salmonella assay

We have evaluated the mutagenic activity of a series of diazo compounds derived from benzidine and its congeners o-tolidine, o-dianisidine and 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine as well as several monoazo compounds. The test system used was a modification of the standard Ames Salmonella assay in which FMN, hamster liver S9 and a preincubation step are used to facilitate azo reduction and detection of the resulting mutagenic aromatic amines. All of the benzidine and o-tolidine dyes tested were clearly mutagenic. The o-dianisidine dyes except for Direct Blue 218 were also mutagenic. Direct Blue 218 is a copper complex of the mutagenic o-dianisidine dye Direct Blue 15. Pigment Yellow 12, which is derived from 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, could not be detected as mutagenic, presumably because of its lack of solubility in the test reaction mixture. Of the monoazo dyes tested, methyl orange was clearly mutagenic, while C.I. Acid Red 26 and Acid Dye (C.I. 16155; often referred to as Ponceau 3R) had marginal to weak mutagenic activity. Several commercial dye samples had greater mutagenic activity with the modified test protocol than did equimolar quantities of their mutagenic aromatic amine reduction products. Investigation of this phenomenon for Direct Black 38 and trypan blue showed that it was due to the presence of mutagenic impurities in these samples. The modified method used appears to be suitable for testing the mutagenicity of azo dyes, and it may also be useful for monitoring the presence of mutagenic or potentially carcinogenic impurities in otherwise nonmutagenic azo dyes.

Mutagenicity of azo dyes following metabolism by different reductive/oxidative systems

The mutagenic activity of a group of diazo dyes based on benzidine and its congeners was compared following metabolic activation of the dyes through sequential reduction and oxidation. The dyes were reduced by incubating them with either a suspension of rat cecal flora or a hamster S9 mix supplemented with flavin mononucleotide. The products of dye reduction were then subjected to oxidative metabolism by either Aroclor-induced rat liver S9 or by hamster liver S9; the resultant mutagenic activity was assayed with Salmonella typhimurium TA1538. Fifteen of the 17 compounds tested were mutagenic, and the degree of mutagenicity was affected by the activity of both the reduction and oxidation systems used. Purified dyes required a reductive step to become mutagenic, but several of the crude dyes did not. All the positive compounds, however, were more mutagenic when the reduction step was included. The mutagenicity of the purified dyes was equal to or greater than that of an equimolar amount of benzidine or appropriate benzidine congener. For the crude dyes, there were no consistent quantitative relationships between the mutagenicity of the dye and that expected from the benzidine moiety.

Conversion of Congo red and 2-azoxyfluorene to mutagens following in vitro reduction by whole-cell rat cecal bacteria

Congo red, an azo dye derived from benzidine, and 2-azoxyfluorene, a derivative of 2-aminofluorene, were reduced during overnight incubation with a suspension of rat intestinal bacteria. High performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectral analysis verified the presence of benzidine in extracts of the Congo red incubations and 2-aminofluorene in extracts of the 2-azoxyfluorene incubations. Extracts of the Congo red incubations were mutagenic toward Salmonella typhimurium TA1538 in the presence of a post-mitochondrial activating system, but Congo red was not mutagenic without this reductive pretreatment. Thus, the utility of the Ames test in screening for potential mutagens may be expanded by a reductive pretreatment utilizing cecal bacteria.

The significance of azo-reduction in the mutagenesis and carcinogenesis of azo dyes

Azo dyes are widely used in textile, printing, cosmetic, drug and food-processing industries. They are also used extensively in laboratories as either biological stains or pH indicators. The extent of such use is related to the degree of industrialization. Since intestinal cancer is more common in highly industrialized countries, a possible connection may exist between the increase in the number of cancer cases and the use of azo dyes. Azo dyes can be reduced to aromatic amines by the intestinal microflora. The mutagenicity of a number of azo dyes is reviewed in this paper. They include Trypan Blue, Ponceau 3R, Pinceau 2R, Methyl Red, Methyl Yellow, Methyl Orange, Lithol Red, Orange I, Orange II, 4-Phenylazo-Naphthylamine, Sudan I, Sudan IV, Acid Alizarin Violet N, Fast Garnet GBC, Allura Red, Ponceau SX, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, Citrus Red No. 2, Orange B, Yellow AB, Carmoisine, Mercury Orange, Ponceau S, Versatint Blue, Phenylazophenol, Evan's Blue and their degraded aromatic amines. The significance of azo reduction in the mutagenesis and carcinogenesis of azo dyes is discussed.

Mutagenicity of selected sulfonated azo dyes in the Salmonella/microsome assay: use of aerobic and anaerobic activation procedures

A selection of 16 sulfonated azo dyes of both the monoazo type and diazo dyes based on benzidine, o-tolidine and o-dianisidine were assayed for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 employing both aerobic and anaerobic preincubation procedures. 3 food dyes, FD & C Red No. 40 and Yellows No. 5 and No. 6 were non-mutagenic in all tests. 5 dyes were mutagenic with aerobic treatment (trypan blue, Pontacyl Sky Blue 4BX, Congo Red, Eriochrome Blue Black B, dimethylaminoazobenzene) and 6 were mutagenic aerobically with riboflavin and cofactors (Deltapurpurin, trypan blue, Pontacyl Sky Blue 4BX, Congo Red, methyl orange, Ponceau 3R). Anaerobic preincubation involving enzymatic reduction of the dyes led to a different pattern of mutagenicity, with trypan blue giving much enhanced mutagenicity; Eriochrome Blue Black B, Pontacyl Sky Blue 4BX, Deltapurpurin and Congo Red exhibiting similar activity to aerobic preincubation; and methyl orange and Ponceau 3R yielding no mutagenicity. The results are interpreted with respect to an hypothesis involving partial reduction of the azo bond under differing degrees of aerobiosis via azo-anion radicals and hydrazo intermediates.

Activation of cycasin to a mutagen for Saccharomyces cerevisiae by rat intestinal flora

Genetic test systems involving microorganisms and liver enzyme preparations may be insufficient to detect compounds that require breakdown by enzymes provided by the microbial flora of the intestinal tract. A method is described for providing such activation and for simultaneously testing the potential genetic activity of breakdown products in an indicator organism. Parabiotic chambers containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic test organisms in one chamber were separated by a membrane filter from rat cecal organisms and test chemical contained in the other chamber. The genetic activities of cycasin breakdown products for mutation, gene conversion, and mitotic crossing-over in samples incubated aerobically are reported. Samples containing cycasin alone had a small but clearly increased frequency of genetic damage. Samples containing rat cecal organisms without cycasin showed no increase in genetic activity. Anaerobic incubation resulted in no increase in genetic activity in any of the samples.

Production of a fecal mutagen by Bacteroides spp

Forty species of anaerobes were screened for the ability to produce an ether-extractable mutagen which is present in the feces of 15 to 20% of individuals in populations at high risk for colon cancer. This mutagen can be produced in vitro by incubating the feces of these individuals anaerobically or by supplementing anaerobic broths with methanol extracts of the feces and incubating them with a dilute fecal inoculum. Of the anaerobes screened, strains of five species of Bacteroides (B. thetaiotaomicron, B. fragilis, B. ovatus, B. uniformis, and Bacteroides group 3452A) were capable of producing five- to eightfold increases in the concentration of mutagen. For in vitro production in broth, all producers required bile and the methanol extract for feces from a person who excretes the mutagen. Mutagen production appeared to be constitutive and occurred during the stationary phase of growth. Cell-free extracts were active and produced mutagen considerably faster than did whole cells. Our observations indicate that the excretion of this mutagen by certain people is dependent on the presence of some precursor of unknown origin. The mutagen-producing species of bacteria are among the most common of the intestinal microflora and were present in mutagen excreters and nonexcreters as well.

Analysis of a method for testing azo dyes for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium in the presence of flavin mononucleotide and hamster liver S9

A protocol for assessing the mutagenic activity of azo dyes derived from mutagenic or potentially mutagenic aromatic amines was evaluated, using 4 model compounds. This protocol is based upon one developed in Sugimura's laboratory with modifications, including the use of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) rather than riboflavin to reduce the azo compounds to free amines, and hamster liver S9 rather then rat liver S9 for metabolic activation. The protocol developed differs from the standard Ames Salmonella plate incorporation assay in 5 ways: (1) uninduced hamster liver S9 rather than Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver S9 is used; (2) 150 microliters of S9 is used rather than the maximum of 50 microliter of S9 used in the standard assay; (3) FMN is added to the cofactor mix; (4) the cofactor mix is modified to include exogenous glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADH, and 4 times the standard amount of glucose 6-phosphate; and (5) a 30-min "pre-incubation" step is used before addition of top agar. We found that each of these 5 changes is necessary for optimal mutagenic activity of azo dyes derived from the mutagenic aromatic amines benzidine, o-tolidine or o-dianisidine. The use of hamster liver S9 rather than rat liver S9 was also required for optimal mutagenic activity of benzidine itself. Rat liver S9 inhibited the ability of hamster S9 to activate benzidine to a mutagen. The presence in rat liver S9 of an inhibitor of the metabolic activation of benzidine may account for the failure of benzidine and a benzidine dye (Congo red) to be strongly mutagenic when tested with this type of S9.

Mutagenicity testing of some commonly used dyes

Seventeen commonly used dyes and 16 of their metabolites or derivatives were tested in the Salmonella-mammalian microsome mutagenicity test. Mutagens active with and without added Aroclor-induced rat liver microsome preparations (S9) were 3-aminopyrene, lithol red, methylene blue (USP), methyl yellow, neutral red, and phenol red. Those mutagenic only with S9 activation were 4-aminopyrazolone, 2,4-dimethylaniline, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, methyl red, and 4-phenyl-azo-1-naphthylamine. Orange II was mutagenic only without added S9. Nonmutagenic azo dyes were allura red, amaranth, ponceau R, ponceau SX, sunset yellow, and tartrazine. Miscellaneous dyes not mutagenic were methyl green, methyl violet 2B, and nigrosin. Metabolites of the azo dyes that were not mutagenic were 1-amino-2-naphthol hydrochloride, aniline, anthranilic acid, cresidine salt, pyrazolone T,R-amino salt (1-amino-2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic disodium salt), R-salt, Schaeffer's salt (2-naphthol-6-sulfonic acid, sodium salt), sodium naphthionate, sulfanilamide, and sulfanilic acid. 4-Amino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid sodium salt was also not mutagenic. Fusobacterium sp. 2 could reductively cleave methyl yellow to N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine which was then activated to a mutagen.

The role of ethyl and fluorine substitution in the 4'-position for N,N-diethyl-4-aminoazobenzene mutagenicity and azo reduction

The mutagenicity and azo reduction rate of N,N-diethyl-4-aminoazobenzene (DEAB) were influenced by substitution in the 4'-position with a ethyl or a fluorine group. The parent dye (DEAB) was shown to be slightly mutagenic with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 using Aroclor 1254-pretreated 9000 x g supernatant fractions from rat liver. Introduction of a 4'-ethyl group in DEAB did not affect mutagenicity of the dye, but a 4-fluoro group markedly enhanced its mutagenicity. DEAB underwent azo reduction and its reduction rate was influenced by 4'-substituents. A 4'-fluoro group in DEAB increased its azo reduction rate, while a 4'-ethyl group abolished it. Inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 also inhibited 4'-fluoro-DEAB mutagenicity and azo reduction.