versicolorin-a and funiculosin-(anthraquinone)

Genotoxicity of fungal anthraquinones of islandicin, iridoskyrin and (-) rubroskyrin, and a colorant of insect origin, cochineal and its component, carminic acid, an anthraquinone, was examined in the hepatocyte primary culture/DNA repair test. The results were compared with that of versicolorin A, an anthraquinone with bisfuran ring, which had been proved to be genotoxic on this assay. All of these anthraquinones, differently from versicolorin A did not show clear response of DNA repair. The results suggest that these agents are not genotoxic carcinogens.

Topics: 2-Acetylaminofluorene; Animals; Anthraquinones; Azo Compounds; Carcinogens; Carmine; Cells, Cultured; DNA; DNA Repair; Liver; Naphthalenesulfonates; Rats