Effects of cinnamaldehyde on survival and formation of HGPRT− mutants in V79 cells treated with methyl methanesulfonate, N-nitroso-N-methylurea, ethyl methanesulfonate and UV light

The effect of the antimutagenic flavoring cinnamaldehyde on the induction of HGPRT− mutants by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and (UV) light was investigated in the Chinese hamster V79 cell line. Cinnamaldehyde did not show any mutagenic or toxic effects in this experimental system by itself and did not modify mutation frequency when given to cells simultaneously with chemical mutagens. Under these conditions, the cytotoxicity of MMS, but not that of MNU and EMS, was increased. Cell viability was also reduced in MNU-, EMS-, or UV light-pretreated cells when they were postincubated in the presence of cinnamaldehyde. Moreover, cinnamaldehyde reduced the frequency of mutations induced by MMS but not by the other mutagens. The results obtained suggest that cinnamaldehyde inhibits some cellular function(s) promoting the repair of a variety of different cytotoxic lesions. At the same time, stimulation by cinnamaldehyde of an error-free DNA repair mechanism acting on MMS-induced mutagenic damage was indicated.