Mutagenicity of four natural flavors: Clove, cinnamon, thyme and Zataria multiflora Boiss

Natural flavors are widely used in various foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. These kinds of additives are applied as colors, preservatives, aroma and tasting agents. The large-scale use of certain food flavors requires accumulation of toxicological data on these substances, particularly in cases where structural similarities with other known substances showing genotoxic or carcinogenic properties indicate that some restrictions on human consumption or exposure should be implemented the case of the flavors. In this study, Concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 micro g/ml of four essential oils, Eugenia caryophyllata [Clove], Cinnamum zeylanicum [Cinnamon], Thymus vulgaris [Thyme] and Zataria multiflora, were tested in Salmonella typhymurium strains TA100 with and without rat liver S9 using Ames Salmonella reversion assay. Without S9 fraction, increase in mutant colonies per plate was not observed in all used concentrations. Also with S9 fraction all of samples had no significant increase in mutant colonies per plate except Clove in 500 micro g/ml, and higher concentrations. Based on obtained results, Clove oil may have mutagenic effect in 500 micro g/ml and higher concentration

[Effects of essential oil and extract of thymus vulgaris, zataria multiflora and eugenia caryophilata on Vero, Hela, HepII cell lines by MTT assay]

Natural flavors essential oils are almost present in various food stuffs, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Safety assessment of these food additives should be seriously considered as long as their due wide applications are favorable. Natural flavors essential oils are widely used in various foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. These kinds of additives are applied as colors, preservatives, aroma, antioxidant agents and tasting agents. In some cases, it may happen that the large use of some of these additives may accompany with some concerns and unwanted toxic disturbs. In this study, Concentrations of 24, 12, 6, 3, 1.5, 0.75, 0.375, 0.1875ppm [micro g/ml] of three essential oils, Eugenia caryophyllata, Thymus vulgaris and Zataria multiflora, were tested in MTT assay with three cell line Vero, Hep2, Hela. All three Essential oils and extracts were shown cytopathological effects on three cell lines in MTT assay in at least 0.04 micro g/ml to maximum 3.0 micro g/ml concentrations. Based on obtained results, all studied essential oils and extracts may have cytopathologic effect in specific concentrations so suggested using of this compound should be performed with considering their proper concentration and more safety studies on them