Genotoxic potentiality and DNA‐binding properties of acetylacetone, maltol, and their aluminum(III) and chromium(III) neutral complexes

Abstract

M(acac)₃ and M(malt)₃ (M = A1, Cr; acac=acetylacetonate; malt=maltolate) complexes, aluminum lactate, acetylacetone, and maltol are tested as mutagens towards Salmonella typhimurium strains TA92, TA98, TA 100, and TA 104, and as inducers of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in mammalian cell cultures (CHO line). The reactivity of the same chemical species with purified DNA is also investigated. Acetylacetone and M(acac)₃ are found to be active both in S. typhimurium TA104 and in mammalian cell cultures; maltol and Al(malt)₃ are found to be active only in mammalian cells. The genotoxic activity of the investigated species are related to their reactivity with DNA and to their lipophilic character.