On the cytotoxicity of some microbial volatile organic compounds

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Chemosphere 2002 Oct;49(1):105-10

On the cytotoxicity of some microbial volatile organic compounds as studied

in the human lung cell line A549.

Kreja L, Seidel HJ.

Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of

Ulm, Germany. ludwika.kreja@...

The cytotoxicity of 13 microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) was

studied using a human lung carcinoma epithelial cell line A549 in a colony

formation assay and two colorimetric assays: the microculture tetrazolium

assay (MTT assay) and the cellular protein assay (methylene blue-MB assay).

For comparison, two known cytotoxic substances: the non-volatile mycotoxin

gliotoxin and the mono-functional alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate

(MMS) were studied. Concentration-response curves for each agent were

established and the IC50 value (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition of

colony growth or absorbance) was estimated. There are differences in

toxicity levels between the MVOC tested and gliotoxin and MMS. The most

toxic MVOC was 1-decanol which was as effective as MMS in all test systems.

1-decanol was about 10-fold more toxic than the other MVOC. All MVOC tested

were more than 1000-fold less toxic than gliotoxin.

PMID: 12243325 [PubMed - in process]