DNA damage and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species by allyl isothiocyanate inEscherichia coli

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) has been used as a food additive for paste-type wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and karashi (Japanese mustard) almost only in Japan, even though it has been reported to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. In the present paper, the capacities for DNA damage and the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by AITC were examined by a ‘rec-lac assay’ and a ‘kat-sod assay’ by using E. coli mutants lacking DNA repair capacities and ROS scavenging enzymes, respectively. Both assays were developed by Nishioka et al. and consist of a streak test, a survival test and a β-galactosidase test. The results show strong DNA damaging capacity, and intracellular generation of ROS by AITC. These results indicate the possibility that intracellular ROS performs some role in DNA damage in bacterial cells treated with AITC. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.