Assessment of the Genotoxic Potential of Mintlactone

Authors

Yax Thakkar, Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc. Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA. Electronic address: ythakkar@rifm.org.
Holger Moustakas, Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc. Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA.
Anne Marie Api, Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc. Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA.
Benjamin Smith, Future Ready Food Safety Hub, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Innovations in Food & Chemical Safety Programme, Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore.
Gary Williams, Prof. Emeritus New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Helmut Greim, Prof. Emeritus of Toxicology Technical University of Munich, USA.
Gerhard Eisenbrand, Senior Research Professor of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Wolfgang Dekant, Professor of Toxicology at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Würzburg, Germany.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Food and Chemical Toxicology

First Page

112659

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Abstract

Mintlactone (chemical name 3,6-dimethyl-5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-2(4H)-one, CAS Number 13341-72-5) is a fragrance and flavor ingredient with reported uses in many different cosmetics, personal care, and household products. In order to evaluate the genotoxic potential of mintlactone, in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity tests were conducted. Results from bacterial mutagenicity tests varied across different batches of differing purity with positive results observed in TA98 only. An in vivo comet assay was also considered to be positive in livers of female mice but negative in male mice. In contrast, in vitro and in vivo micronucleus tests, as well as 3D skin comet/micronucleus tests, were negative, indicating no chromosomal or DNA damage. The underlying causes for these contradictory results are not clear. It appears that the purity and/or stability of the test material may be an issue. In the absence of dependable scientific information on the purity and/or storage stability of mintlactone, its safety for use as a fragrance ingredient cannot be substantiated.

Recommended Citation

Thakkar, Y., Moustakas, H., Api, A. M., Smith, B., Williams, G., Greim, H., Eisenbrand, G., & Dekant, W. (2022). Assessment of the Genotoxic Potential of Mintlactone. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 159, 112659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2021.112659