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The effects of 4-thujanol on chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and micronucleus in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

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Abstract

4-Thujanol, a bicyclic monoterpene alcohol, is present in the essential oils of many medicinal and aromatic plants. It is commonly used as a fragrance and flavouring ingredient in a lot of different products. The potential genotoxic effects of 4-thujanol on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were investigated in vitro by the chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and micronucleus (MN) tests. The cells were treated with 13, 26 and 52 μg/mL 4-thujanol in the presence and absence of a metabolic activator (S9 mix). 4-Thujanol induced CA (P < 0.001) and MN formation (P < 0.05) at all concentrations (13, 26 and 52 μg/mL) in the presence and absence of the S9 mix without a concentration-dependent manner. However, the treatment of peripheral lymphocytes with 4-thujanol did not produce a statistical difference in the frequency of SCEs when compared with control group. Furthermore, this monoterpene did not significantly decrease the mitotic index (MI), proliferation index (PI), and nuclear division index (NDI). In conclusion, 4-thujanol had a significant clastogenic effect at the tested concentrations (13, 26 and 52 μg/mL) for human PBLs. In addition, no cytotoxic and/or cytostatic effects were observed regardless of the concentrations used. This work presents the first report on genotoxic properties of 4-thujanol.

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Abbreviations

CA:

Chromosome aberration

SCE:

Sister chromatid exchange

MN:

Micronucleus

PBLs:

Peripheral blood lymphocytes

MNBN:

Micronucleated binuclear cell

MI:

Mitotic index

PI:

Proliferation index

NDI:

Nuclear division index

MMC:

Mitomycin-C

CP:

Cyclophosphamide

Cyt-B:

Cytochalasin B

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Acknowledgements

This investigation was supported by a grant from The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey, Ankara (TUBITAK, Project No. 109T546).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Mustafa Kemal University, 31000, Hatay, Turkey

    Ayşe Yavuz Kocaman

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Adıyaman University, Adıyaman, Turkey

    Eyyüp Rencüzoğulları

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Mehmet Topaktaş

  4. Department of Biology, Basic and Applied Sciences Institute, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey

    Erman Salih İstifli & Mehmet Büyükleyla

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  1. Ayşe Yavuz Kocaman
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  2. Eyyüp Rencüzoğulları
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Correspondence to Ayşe Yavuz Kocaman.

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Kocaman, A.Y., Rencüzoğulları, E., Topaktaş, M. et al. The effects of 4-thujanol on chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and micronucleus in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cytotechnology 63, 493–502 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-011-9372-7

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