Mutagenic compounds in an extract from rutae herba (Ruta graveolens L.). I. Mutagenicity is partially caused by furoquinoline alkaloids

Mutagenicity testing of a commercial extract from Rutae Herba (Tinctura Rutae) revealed a strong effect in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 without S9 mix. In the presence of S9 mix only a weak response was observed. Moderate mutagenic effects were detected with and without S9 mix using strain TA100. The extract used contained the furoquinoline Alkaloids dictamnine, gamma-fagarine, skimmianine, pteleine and kokusaginine, as indicated by g.c. and g.c.-m.s. analysis. The pure compounds exhibited a mutagenic activity only in the presence of S9 mix in strain TA98 as well as in strain TA100, but their specific mutagenicity differed greatly in strain TA98. We conclude that the extract studied contains different mutagenic activities and that these are only partially due to the furoquinolines present in the extract.