Evaluation of the SOS chromotest for the detection of antimutagens.

The SOS chromotest was applied for the detection of antimutagens. To raise SOS induction, the bacteria were treated with the mutagens, UV, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQO), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG), or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]p). The inhibitory effects of L-ascorbic acid, glutathione, vanillin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-chlorouracil (5-CU), cobaltous chloride, sodium selenite and sodium arsenite, which are known as antimutagens, were investigated with their addition either simultaneously or post treatment time. It became clear that the SOS chromotest was very useful for the detection of antimutagens.