Antimutagenic activity of 1,8-cineol, α-terpineol and β–caryophyllene oxide

Among natural substances, terpenes, in particular monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, have shown many biological activity, among which antiproliferative and antimutagenic ones. On the basis of these findings and considering the importance of identifying natural substances with chemopreventive properties, present study aimed to investigate the potential antimutagenic activity of three terpenes, 1,8-cineol, α-terpineol and β-caryophyllene oxide, frequently used as flavouring agents in cosmetics and detergents and as food additives . The experiments were carried out by the bacterial reverse mutation assay against known mutagens,on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 and on Escherichia coli WP2uvrA strains, also in presence of the metabolic activator S9. To investigate the mechanism of action, the substances resulted antimutagenic were tested for their antioxidant activity and their capability to interact with multilamellar vesicles of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC MLVs); moreover the kinetic of absorption by DMPC MLVs was determined. est substances inhibited the chemically-induced mutagenesis in all strains, even thought with different spectrum of activity and potency. β-Caryophyllene oxide and α-terpineol showed the highest antimutagenic activity. The antimutagenicity of β-caryophyllene oxide seems to be due to aspecific mechanisms, in particular as membrane-permeability alteration without antioxidant effects.Connversely, that of α-terpineol seems to involve both antioxidant mechanisms and membrane-permeability alteration.