Genotoxicity of dill ( Anethum graveolens L.), peppermint ( Mentha×piperita L.) and pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) essential oils in human lymphocytes and Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 485 - 492
• Main Authors: Lazutka, J.R, Mierauskien≐, J, Slapšyt≐, G, Dedonyt≐, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2001; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anethum graveolens; Animals; Apiaceae; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosome Aberrations; Dill; Domestic and cosmetic products toxicology; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - drug effects; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Essential oils; Humans; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - ultrastructure; Medical sciences; Mentha piperita; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutation; Mutations; Oils, Volatile - toxicity; Peppermint; Pine; Pinus sylvestris; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Oils - toxicity; Sister Chromatid Exchange; Sister chromatid exchanges; Toxicology; Mutations; Dill; Essential oils; Peppermint; Sister chromatid exchanges; BaP; MMS; MA; SCE; Pine; RI; SMART; Chromosome aberrations; CA; Chromosomal aberration; Human; Mutagenicity testing; Toxicity; Sister chromatid exchange; Genotoxicity; Extract; Mutagen; Pinus sylvestris; In vitro; Anethum graveolens; Mentha piperita; Labiatae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Gymnospermae; Plant origin; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Essential oil; Umbelliferae
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(00)00157-5

Genotoxic properties of the essential oils extracted from dill (
Anethum graveolens L.) herb and seeds, peppermint (
Mentha×piperita L.) herb and pine (
Pinus sylvestris L.) needles were studied using chromosome aberration (CA) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) tests in human lymphocytes in vitro, and
Drosophila melanogaster somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in vivo. In the CA test, the most active essential oil was from dill seeds, then followed essential oils from dill herb, peppermint herb and pine needles, respectively. In the SCE test, the most active essential oils were from dill herb and seeds followed by essential oils from pine needles and peppermint herb. Essential oils from dill herb and seeds and pine needles induced CA and SCE in a clear dose-dependent manner, while peppermint essential oil induced SCE in a dose-independent manner. All essential oils were cytotoxic for human lymphocytes. In the SMART test, a dose-dependent increase in mutation frequency was observed for essential oils from pine and dill herb. Peppermint essential oil induced mutations in a dose-independent manner. Essential oil from dill seeds was almost inactive in the SMART test.