VIEW ARTICLE    http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/ASBCJ-2012-0716-01

Characterization of Mutagenicity Test and Identification of N-Nitroso Mutagens in Some Soju Alcoholic Spirits. Ki-Hyung Kim (1), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital, School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Busan, Korea; Yunjin Bae (1), Korea Science Academy, Busan, Korea; Kyu-Sup Lee, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital, School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Busan, Korea; Yuseok Moon (2), Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea; Chae Hwa Kwon (1), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital, School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Busan, Korea; and Jung Hoon Ahn (1), Korea Science Academy, Busan, Korea; Institute for Gifted Students, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea. (1) These authors contributed equally to the present study. (2) Corresponding author. Phone: (+82) 51-510-8094; Fax: (+82) 55-382-8090; E-mail: <moon@pnu.edu> J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 70(3):182-185, 2012.

Although chronic exposure to alcohol or its contaminants is the main carcinogenic risk factor in the high prevalence of hepatic cancers, information on the mutagenicity of Soju alcoholic spirits is limited. Presently, the mutagenicity of Soju was tested using the Ames test. Evaporation residues of 11 common brands of Soju were examined and four of the 11 brands displayed a mutagenic response in the TA98-based Ames test without S9 liver extract. Moreover, among these positive samples, two had mutagenic activity in both TA98- and TA100-based Ames tests with S9 liver extract. Some samples of Ames test-positivity also contained N-nitrosodimethylamine or N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, implicating potential etiologic factors for the Ames test. Keywords: Ames test, Mutagenicity, Soju alcoholic spirits

Aunque la exposición crónica al alcohol o sus contaminantes es el principal factor de riesgo cancerígeno en la alta prevalencia de los cánceres hepáticos, la información sobre la mutagenicidad de los espíritus alcohólicas de soju es limitada. En la actualidad, la mutagenicidad del soju fue probada usando la prueba de Ames. Los residuos de evaporación de 11 marcas de soju comunes fueron examinados y cuatro de las 11 marcas mostraron una respuesta mutagénica en el ensayo de Ames TA98 basado en extracto de hígado sin S9. Por otra parte, entre las muestras positivas, dos tenían actividad mutagénica en las dos pruebas de Ames TA98 y TA100-basado con extracto de hígado S9. Algunas muestras de la prueba de Ames-positividad también contenía N-nitrosodimetilamina o N-acetoxi-2-acetilaminofluoreno, que implican a los posibles factores etiológicos de la prueba de Ames. Palabras claves: Los espíritus alcohólicas de soju, Mutagenicidad, Prueba de Ames