myosmine and 4-hydoxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

The tobacco alkaloid myosmine was detected in nut and nut products [J. Agric. Food Chem. 46 (1998) 2703]. Upon nitrosation, myosmine yields 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) and N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) [J. Agric. Food Chem. 48 (2001) 392]. NNN is a strong oesophageal carcinogen in rats. Metabolic activation of NNN leads to formation of DNA and protein adducts which release HPB upon hydrolysis. In the present study the time, pH and dose-dependent nitrosation of myosmine and its covalent binding to DNA was investigated. [5-(3)H]myosmine was incubated with nitrite for 1-24 h in buffer solutions adjusted to pH 1-6. At pH 2-4 myosmine was easily nitrosated and gave rise to two major products, HPB and NNN, and five minor not yet identified products. Maximal formation was achieved for HPB at pH 2 after 8 h (72% of total radioactivity) and for NNN at pH 3 after 8 h (16%). For DNA binding studies labeled myosmine was incubated under nitrosation conditions with calf thymus DNA. Within 3 h up to 0.1% of the radioactivity was covalently bound to DNA. Endogenous nitrosation of myosmine, present in nuts and other dietary components could constitute a significant risk factor for tumours in the upper intestinal tract such as oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which are unrelated to tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alkaloids; Butanones; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; DNA Adducts; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nicotiana; Nitrosamines; Nitrosation; Nuts; Pyridines; Risk Factors; Time Factors

N-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) is formed by synthetic or biological N-nitrosation of the tobacco alkaloid nornicotine. Following metabolic activation of NNN, DNA and protein adducts are formed releasing 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB), an actual biomarker to differentiate between tobacco smokers and passive smokers. NNN and HPB can be prepared in a new one-step reaction by N-nitrosation of the nicotinoid myosmine which has been found not only in tobacco but also in nut products. The reaction was tested also in human gastric juice. The formation rate of NNN and HPB depends on the pH value in the reaction solutions. This is important under the aspect of myosmine uptake by humans from other biological sources and subsequent biological activation. The new reaction pathway indicates that human exposure to nicotinoid nitrosation products seems to be not restricted exclusively to tobacco.

Topics: Alkaloids; Biomarkers; Butanones; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Gastric Juice; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Nitrogen; Nitrosamines; Pyridines