Bioluminescent Bacterial Genotoxicity Test for Fatty Acid Derivatives and Heated Oils

Abstract

The Mutatox test (the commercial name for a bioluminescent bacterial genotoxicity test), which has been proved to be a good alternative to the Ames test, was used in this study to test the genotoxicity of fatty acid derivatives and heated oils. This test allows either pure or complex compounds to be rapidly screened for genotoxicity. Five different column fractions isolated from autoxidized methyl linoleate or autoxidized methyl linolenate were not genotoxic with or without the activation by the S-9 (microsomal) fraction. Chlorinated fatty acids including chloroethyl caprate, laurate, palmitate, and linoleate were genotoxic in the presence of S-9 activation. When heated at 180 °C, after 32 h, soybean oil exhibited genotoxic activity with or without the S-9 activation. The addition of 1% cholesterol into the soybean oil increased the onset of the genotoxicity during heating. Keywords: Mutatox test; genotoxicity test; fatty acid hydroperoxides; chlorinated fatty acids