Acetaldehyde as a Food Flavoring Substance: Aspects of Risk Assessment.

The Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) has reviewed the currently available data in order to assess the health risks associated with the use of acetaldehyde as a flavoring substance in foods. Acetaldehyde is genotoxic in vitro. Following oral intake of ethanol or inhalation exposure to acetaldehyde, systemic genotoxic effects of acetaldehyde in vivo cannot be ruled out (induction of DNA adducts and micronuclei). At present, the key question of whether acetaldehyde is genotoxic and mutagenic in vivo after oral exposure cannot be answered conclusively. There is also insufficient data on human exposure. Consequently, it is currently not possible to reliably assess the health risk associated with the use of acetaldehyde as a flavoring substance. However, considering the genotoxic potential of acetaldehyde as well as numerous data gaps that need to be filled to allow a comprehensive risk assessment, the SKLM considers that the use of acetaldehyde as a flavoring may pose a safety concern. For reasons of precautionary consumer protection, the SKLM recommends that the scientific base for approval of the intentional addition of acetaldehyde to foods as a flavoring substance should be reassessed.

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of acrylamide: Arguments for the derivation of a tolerable daily intake (TDI value).

This opinion of the Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) presents arguments for an updated risk assessment of diet-related exposure to acrylamide (AA), based on a critical review of scientific evidence relevant to low dose exposure. The SKLM arrives at the conclusion that as long as an appropriate exposure limit for AA is not exceeded, genotoxic effects resulting in carcinogenicity are unlikely to occur. Based on the totality of the evidence, the SKLM considers it scientifically justified to derive a tolerable daily intake (TDI) as a health-based guidance value.

p53 triggers mitochondrial apoptosis following DNA damage-dependent replication stress by the hepatotoxin methyleugenol.

Liver cancer is one of the most frequent tumor entities worldwide, which is causally linked to viral infection, fatty liver disease, life-style factors and food-borne carcinogens, particularly aflatoxins. Moreover, genotoxic plant toxins including phenylpropenes are suspected human liver carcinogens. The phenylpropene methyleugenol (ME) is a constituent of essential oils in many plants and occurs in herbal medicines, food, and cosmetics. Following its uptake, ME undergoes Cytochrome P450 (CYP) and sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1)-dependent metabolic activation, giving rise to DNA damage. However, little is known about the cellular response to the induced DNA adducts. Here, we made use of different SULT1A1-proficient cell models including primary hepatocytes that were treated with 1'-hydroxymethyleugenol (OH-ME) as main phase I metabolite. Firstly, mass spectrometry showed a concentration-dependent formation of N2-MIE-dG as major DNA adduct, strongly correlating with SULT1A1 expression as attested in cells with and without human SULT1A1. ME-derived DNA damage activated mainly the ATR-mediated DNA damage response as shown by phosphorylation of CHK1 and histone 2AX, followed by p53 accumulation and CHK2 phosphorylation. Consistent with these findings, the DNA adducts decreased replication speed and caused replication fork stalling. OH-ME treatment reduced viability particularly in cell lines with wild-type p53 and triggered apoptotic cell death, which was rescued by pan-caspase-inhibition. Further experiments demonstrated mitochondrial apoptosis as major cell death pathway. ME-derived DNA damage caused upregulation of the p53-responsive genes NOXA and PUMA, Bax activation, and cytochrome c release followed by caspase-9 and caspase-3 cleavage. We finally demonstrated the crucial role of p53 for OH-ME triggered cell death as evidenced by reduced pro-apoptotic gene expression, strongly attenuated Bax activation and cell death inhibition upon genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of p53. Taken together, our study demonstrates for the first time that ME-derived DNA damage causes replication stress and triggers mitochondrial apoptosis via the p53-Bax pathway.

Salivary nitrate/nitrite and acetaldehyde in humans: potential combination effects in the upper gastrointestinal tract and possible consequences for the in vivo formation of N-nitroso compounds-a hypothesis.

Subsequent to the dietary uptake of nitrate/nitrite in combination with acetaldehyde/ethanol, combination effects resulting from the sustained endogenous exposure to nitrite and acetaldehyde may be expected. This may imply locoregional effects in the upper gastrointestinal tract as well as systemic effects, such as a potential influence on endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC). Salivary concentrations of the individual components nitrate and nitrite and acetaldehyde are known to rise after ingestion, absorption and systemic distribution, thereby reflecting their respective plasma kinetics and parallel secretion through the salivary glands as well as the microbial/enzymatic metabolism in the oral cavity. Salivary excretion may also occur with certain drug molecules and food constituents and their metabolites. Therefore, putative combination effects in the oral cavity and the upper digestive tract may occur, but this has remained largely unexplored up to now. In this Guest Editorial, published evidence on exposure levels and biokinetics of nitrate/nitrite/NOx, NOC and acetaldehyde in the organism is reviewed and knowledge gaps concerning combination effects are identified. Research is suggested to be initiated to study the related unresolved issues.

Comparison of points of departure between subchronic and chronic toxicity studies on food additives, food contaminants and natural food constituents.

It was generally accepted as a default assumption that No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Levels (NOAELs) or Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect Levels (LOAELs) in long-term toxicity studies are lower than in short-term ones, i.e. the toxic potency increases with prolonged exposure duration. Recent studies on pesticides and industrial chemicals reported that subacute, subchronic or chronic NOAELs/LOAELs are similar when study design factors are appropriately considered. We investigated whether these findings also apply to certain food constituents. After reviewing subchronic and chronic toxicity studies on more than 100 compounds, a total of 32 compounds could be included in the analysis. Geometric mean (GM) values of subchronic vs. chronic NOAEL or LOAEL ratios ranged from 1.0 to 2.0, with a geometric standard deviation from 2.2 to 4.2, which is consistent with data reported in the literature. While for many of the investigated compounds the ratio is around 1 - suggesting that health-based guidance values could appropriately be derived from subchronic toxicity studies - our study also identified some substances with higher ratios leading to a GM of around 2. The EFSA Scientific Committee suggested to apply an uncertainty factor of 2 to extrapolate from subchronic to chronic studies and, as a precautionary approach, we concur with this suggestion.

Metabolism of carcinogenic alpha-asarone by human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Major metabolites of alpha-asarone in liver microsomes are epoxide-derived side-chain diols. The intermediately formed epoxides are mutagenic and form DNA adducts and thus are likely responsible for the (hepato) carcinogenic effect of alpha-asarone observed in male mice. We here investigated the role of eight human cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) in the metabolism of alpha-asarone using Supersomes™. The epoxidation of the side-chain of alpha-asarone was mainly catalyzed by CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent by 2B6 and 1A1 whereas the hydroxylation of the side-chain leading to (E)-3'-hydroxyasarone was catalyzed by all investigated CYPs excluding CYP2A6. O-demethylation was catalyzed by CYP1A1, 2A6, 2B6, and 2C19. Applying relative activity factors (RAF) to the observed formation rates revealed that CYP3A4, at least at lower substrate concentrations, is nearly solely responsible for the formation of the mutagenic side-chain epoxides of alpha-asarone. Comparison of the RAF-corrected formation rates of all metabolites with those found in incubation with human liver microsomes revealed that the side-chain hydroxylation and epoxidation can be explained in good approximation by the tested hepatic CYPs, whereas other CYPs or enzymes may contribute to the O-demethylation of alpha-asarone. Therefore, the capacity for metabolic activation of alpha-asarone has to be expected to be widely present among the general population.

Assessment and characterization of DNA adducts produced by alkenylbenzenes in fetal turkey and chicken livers.

Formation of DNA adducts by five alkenylbenzenes, safrole, methyl eugenol, eugenol, and asarone with either α- or ß-conformation, was analyzed in fetal avian livers in two in ovo models. DNA reactivity of the carcinogens safrole and methyl eugenol was previously demonstrated in the turkey egg model, whereas non-genotoxic eugenol was negative. In the current study, alkenylbenzenes were also tested in the chicken egg model. Injections with alkenylbenzenes were administered to fertilized turkey or chicken eggs for three consecutive days. Three hours after the last injection, liver samples were evaluated for DNA adduct formation using the 32P-nucleotide postlabeling assay. DNA samples from turkey livers were also analyzed for adducts using mass spectrometry. In both species, genotoxic alkenylbenzenes safrole, methyl eugenol, α- and ß-asarone produced DNA adducts, the presence and nature of which, with exception of safrole, were confirmed by mass spectrometry, validating the sensitivity of the 32P-postlabeling assay. Overall, the results of testing were congruent between fetal turkey and chicken livers, confirming that these organisms can be used interchangeably. Moreover, data obtained in both models is comparable to genotoxicity findings in other species, supporting the usefulness of avian models for the assessment of genotoxicity as a potential alternative to animal models.

Formation and fate of DNA adducts of alpha- and beta-asarone in rat hepatocytes.

While alpha-asarone (aA) and beta-asarone (bA) are genotoxic and were shown to be carcinogenic the mechanisms underlying these effects are not understood. Major metabolites of both compounds are epoxides which are mutagenic in the Ames test. We investigated their reactivity towards nucleosides and identified epoxide-derived DNA adducts with 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) and 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) using UPLC-UV/VIS, LC-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. The adducts were characterized as N6-1'-hydroxy-dihydro-asarone-dA and N2-1'-hydroxy-dihydro-asarone-dG. Chemical synthesis of these adducts, isotope labeled standards and development of a sensitive and specific isotope dilution mass spectrometric method allowed the quantification of DNA adducts formed in primary rat hepatocytes incubated with aA or bA over up to 48 h. We observed a concentration-dependent, nearly linear formation of DNA adducts, which was higher for bA than for aA. In time course experiments, the amount of DNA adducts reached a maximum within the first 6 h. Over the next 42 h, the amount of DNA adducts decreased, however DNA adducts were still detectable even at the lowest substrate concentration of 10 µM. These results clearly show that aA and bA are able to form epoxide-derived DNA adducts in mammalian cells which may be responsible for their genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic mode of action.

Metabolism of the carcinogen alpha-asarone in liver microsomes.

Alpha-asarone (1) is a naturally occurring phenylpropene found in several plants, e.g. Acorus calamus. 1-containing plant materials and essential oils thereof are used for flavoring foods and in many phytopharmaceuticals. 1 has been claimed to have positive pharmacological effects, however, it is carcinogenic in male mice (liver) and probably genotoxic. Since the metabolic pathways of 1 have not been investigated and its carcinogenic mode of action is unknown, we investigated the metabolism of 1 in liver microsomes of rat, bovine, porcine, and human origin using HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MS/MS and derived kinetic data on the metabolite formation. The main metabolic pathway was the side-chain hydroxylation leading to (E)-3'-hydroxyasarone (2). Epoxidation of 1 presumably led to (E)-asarone-1',2'-epoxide (4) which instantly hydrolyzed to form erythro- and threo-configured diols (5b+5a). As a minor reaction O-demethylation of 1 was observed. The metabolite formation showed little species-specific differences with the exception of porcine liver microsomes for which the formation of diols 5b+5a exceeded the formation of alcohol 2. The kinetic parameters imply a dependence of the pattern of metabolite formation from substrate concentration. On the basis of our results and earlier findings we hypothesize the genotoxic epoxide 4 being the ultimate carcinogen metabolically formed from 1.

Hepatic metabolism of carcinogenic ß-asarone.

ß-Asarone (1) belongs to the group of naturally occurring phenylpropenes like eugenol or anethole. Compound 1 is found in several plants, e.g., Acorus calamus or Asarum europaeum. Compound 1-containing plant materials and essential oils thereof are used to flavor foods and alcoholic beverages and as ingredients of many drugs in traditional phytomedicines. Although 1 has been claimed to have several positive pharmacological effects, it was found to be genotoxic and carcinogenic in rodents (liver and small intestine). The mechanism of action of carcinogenic allylic phenylpropenes consists of the metabolic activation via cytochrome P450 enzymes and sulfotransferases. In vivo experiments suggested that this pathway does not play a major role in the carcinogenicity of the propenylic compound 1 as is the case for other propenylic compounds, e.g., anethole. Since the metabolic pathways of 1 have not been investigated and its carcinogenic mode of action is unknown, we investigated the metabolism of 1 in liver microsomes of rats, bovines, porcines, and humans using (1)H NMR, HPLC-DAD, and LC-ESI-MS/MS techniques. We synthesized the majority of identified metabolites which were used as reference compounds for the quantification and final verification of metabolites. Microsomal epoxidation of the side chain of 1 presumably yielded (Z)-asarone-1',2'-epoxide (8a) which instantly was hydrolyzed to the corresponding erythro- and threo-configurated diols (9b, 9a) and the ketone 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenylacetone (13). This was the main metabolic pathway in the metabolism of 1 in all investigated liver microsomes. Hydroxylation of the side chain of 1 led to the formation of three alcohols at total yields of less than 30%: 1'-hydroxyasarone (2), (E)- and (Z)-3'-hydroxyasarone (4 and 6), with 6 being the mainly formed alcohol and 2 being detectable only in liver microsomes of Aroclor 1254-pretreated rats. Small amounts of 4 and 6 were further oxidized to the corresponding carbonyl compounds (E)- and (Z)-3'-oxoasarone (5, 7). 1'-Oxoasarone (3) was probably also formed in incubations with 1 but was not detectable, possibly due to its rapid reaction with nucleophiles. Eventually, three mono-O-demethylated metabolites of 1 were detected in minor concentrations. The time course of metabolite formation and determined kinetic parameters show little species-specific differences in the microsomal metabolism of 1. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters imply a very low dependence of the pattern of metabolite formation from substrate concentration. In human liver microsomes, 71-75% of 1 will be metabolized via epoxidation, 21-15% via hydroxylation (and further oxidation), and 8-10% via demethylation at lower as well as higher concentrations of 1, respectively (relative values). On the basis of our results, we hypothesize that the genotoxic epoxides of 1 are the ultimate carcinogens formed from 1.

Formation of hepatic DNA adducts by methyleugenol in mouse models: drastic decrease by Sult1a1 knockout and strong increase by transgenic human SULT1A1/2.

Methyleugenol--a natural constituent of herbs and spices--is hepatocarcinogenic in rodent models. It can form DNA adducts after side-chain hydroxylation and sulfation. We previously demonstrated that human sulfotransferases (SULTs) 1A1 and 1A2 as well as mouse Sult1a1, expressed in Salmonella target strains, are able to activate 1'-hydroxymethyleugenol (1'-OH-ME) and 3'-hydroxymethylisoeugenol (3'-OH-MIE) to mutagens. Now we investigated the role of these enzymes in the formation of hepatic DNA adducts by methyleugenol in the mouse in vivo. We used FVB/N mice [wild-type (wt)] and genetically modified strains in this background: Sult1a1 knockout (ko), transgenic for human SULT1A1/2 (tg) and the combination of both modifications (ko-tg). Methyleugenol (50mg/kg body mass) formed 23, 735, 3770 and 4500 N (2)-(trans-methylisoeugenol-3'-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts per 10(8) 2'-deoxyribonucleosides (dN) in ko, wt, ko-tg and tg mice, respectively. The corresponding values for an equimolar dose of 1'-OH-ME were 12, 1490, 12 400 and 13 300 per 10(8) dN. Similar relative levels were observed for the minor adduct, N (6)-(trans-methylisoeugenol-3'-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosine. Thus, the adduct formation by both compounds was nearly completely dependent on the presence of SULT1A enzymes, with human SULT1A1/2 producing stronger effects than mouse Sult1a1. Moreover, a dose of 0.05 mg/kg methyleugenol (one-fourth of the estimated average daily exposure of humans) was sufficient to form detectable adducts in humanized (ko-tg) mice. Although 3'-OH-MIE was equally mutagenic to 1'-OH-ME in Salmonella strains expressing human SULT1A1 or 1A2, it only formed 0.14% of hepatic adducts in ko-tg mice compared with an equimolar dose of 1'-OH-ME, suggesting an important role of detoxifying pathways for this isomer in vivo.

Metabolism of methyleugenol in liver microsomes and primary hepatocytes: pattern of metabolites, cytotoxicity, and DNA-adduct formation.

Methyleugenol (1) is a constituent of many foods, in particular of herbal spices, and is used as flavoring agent in foodstuffs and as fragrance in cosmetics. 1 has been found to be carcinogenic in rodents, its metabolite, 1-hydroxymethyleugenol (2) acting as proximate DNA-binding carcinogen. We incubated 1 with liver microsomes of rat, bovine, and human origin. We found 2, 3-hydroxymethylisoeugenol (3), and 6-hydroxymethyleugenol (4) as major metabolites, and 1-oxomethyleugenol (5), 3-oxomethylisoeugenol (6), eugenol (9), chavibetol (11), and (RS)-2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydromethyleugenol (7) as minor metabolites. Methyleugenol-2,3-epoxide (8), probably the precursor of 7, could not be detected. Incubations with synthetic metabolites were applied in order to uncover metabolic pathways. Incubations with primary rat hepatocytes revealed mainly nonconjugated 2 and conjugated 4, and minor amounts of partly conjugated 7 and conjugated 9 + 11. The "reactive metabolites" 3, 5, 6, and 8 were not detectable, possibly due to rapid reaction with cellular macromolecules. The highest cytotoxicity (resazurin reduction assay and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay) was observed for the main metabolite 2 and its secondary metabolite 5 with EC(50) values of 50 and 10 µM, respectively. Deoxyadenosine or deoxyguanosine adducts were formed by incubating 1 or metabolites with rat hepatocytes. The rank order of adduct formation was 2 > 1 > 3 > 6, whereas 4, 5, and 8 were inactive. In conclusion, we present a virtually complete pattern of microsomal (rat, bovine, and human) and hepatocellular (rat) metabolites of 1 suggesting the formation of several reactive metabolites possibly involved in carcinogenicity, organ toxicity, and immune reactions.

Metabolism of methylisoeugenol in liver microsomes of human, rat, and bovine origin.

Methylisoeugenol (1,2-dimethoxy-4-propenylbenzene, 1) is a minor constituent of essential oils, naturally occurring as a mixture of cis/trans isomers. 1 is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved food additive and has been given "Generally Recognized as Safe" status. Previously, metabolism of 1 has been studied in the rat, revealing mainly nontoxic cinnamoyl derivatives as major metabolites. However, data concerning the possible formation of reactive intermediary metabolites are not available to date. In this study, the oxidative metabolism of 1 was studied using liver microsomes of rat [not induced, rat liver microsomes (RLM); Aroclor1254 induced RLM (ARLM)], bovine, and human (pooled from 150 donors) origin. Incubations of these microsomes with 1 provided phase I metabolites that were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy and/or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Identity was confirmed by comparison with (1)H NMR spectra of synthesized reference compounds. Formation of metabolites was quantified by HPLC/UV using dihydromethyleugenol (10) synthesized as the internal standard. From incubations of ARLM with 1, seven metabolites could be detected, with 3'-hydroxymethylisoeugenol (2), isoeugenol and isochavibetol (3 + 4), and 6-hydroxymethylisoeugenol (5) being the main metabolites. Secondary metabolites derived from 1 were identified as the α,ß-unsaturated aldehyde 3'-oxomethylisoeugenol (6) and 1',2'-dihydroxy-dihydromethylisoeugenol (7). We were surprised to find that formation of allylic 6-hydroxymethyleugenol (8) was observed starting at approximately 30 min after the beginning of incubations with ARLM. HLM did not form ring-hydroxylated metabolites but were most active in the formation of 6 and 7. ARLM incubations displayed the highest turnover rate and broadest metabolic pattern, presumably resulting from an increased expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes. In conclusion, we present a virtually complete pattern of nonconjugated microsomal metabolites of 1 comprising reactive metabolites and suggest the formation of reactive intermediates that need more investigation with respect to their possible adverse properties.