Abstract
Mutagenic properties of terpenes (both synthesis and plant
derived) have been tested, up to now, as a single molecule.
A terpenes containing hydro-alcoholic solution deriving from
frankincense and myrrh resins and hyssop essential oil was
assayed for mutagenicity by means of Ames test. Extraction tech-
nique conducted with electromagnetic fields at room temperature
enabled to obtain a solution of free active molecules that did
not undergo thermal degradation and characterized by biocidal
activity. In order to verify lack of mutagenic hazard in coming
into contact with human, the solution was appropriately diluted
and tested with Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA1535 and
YG1024 strains, both in absence and in presence of metabolic
system S9. For none of the tested conditions a 2-fold increase of
induced revertants, as regards to spontaneous, was registered.
The ratio between induced and spontaneous His+ revertants
(Mutagenic Index) was around 1.00 in all the determinations
and no statistically significant differences have been identified
comparing the sample and the negative control. A similar result
has been obtained for the dose-response curve. In conclusion,
we verified that tested terpenes solution lacks of mutagenicity on
Salmonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activator so
this plant extract can be safely used as biocide.
