VICIA-FABA ROOT-TIP MICRONUCLEUS TEST ON THE MUTAGENICITY OF WATER-SOLUBLE CONTENTS OF CIGARETTE-SMOKE

The possible mutagenicity of the water-soluble contents of cigarette s moke (WSCS) was evaluated by using the Vicia faba root tip micronucleu s test. The results showed significant changes in micronucleus frequen cy which were caused by each different concentration of WSCS. This ind icates that the Vicia faba root tip micronucleus test might be used as one kind of mutagenic detection method for cigarette smoke. A compara tive evaluation on the mutagenicity of 10 brands of cigarettes was car ried out. Results confirmed that various degrees of mutagenicity were found for all of the brand cigarettes, among them, Huaihai was the hig hest, while Camellia was the lowest. The micronucleus frequencies were reduced by adding tea polyphenol, nicotinamide adenine, vitamin C and sodium selenite to the WSCS. The results suggest that these added sub stances might reduce the genetic injury induced by cigarette smoke.