GENOTOXICITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF Thymbra spicata L. var spicata IN SALMONELLA/MICROSOME AND SOS CHROMOTEST

Abstract

Essential oils are concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing, volatile aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic plants. Various essential oils and their monoterpenoid constituents have been widely used as fragrances in cosmetics, as flavouring food additives. and as scenting agents in a variety of household products. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mutagenic potential of essential oil of Thymbra spicata L. var spicata by Sahnonella/microsome assay TA98 and TA 100 tester strains, and also SOS chromotest with E.coli PQ37 strain, with and without addition of an S9 metabolic activation mixture. The essential oil of T spicata L. var spicata showed weakly mutagenic activity on both strains of Salmonella either without or with S9 mixture. No mutagenicity was found in the SOS chromotest either with or without S9 mixture. These results indicate a weak mutagenicity of the essential oil of Thymbra spicata in vitro.