Structure-Activity Relations of Flavonoids as Antimutagens Against Cooked Food Mutagens and Nitroarenes in the Salmonella Reversion Assay

When about 60 flavonoids were tested for their antimutagenic potencies against 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and the nitroarenes 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF), 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), and 3-nitrofluoranthene (3-NFA) in the Salmonella reversion assay, distinct structure-activity relations were detected. With both groups of compounds, flavonoid glycosides were inactive or at best weakly active. Catechins and anthocyanidins, which lack the carbonyl function at C-4 of the flavane nucleus, were inactive. In contrast, chalcones exerted strong antimutagenicity against IQ and the nitroarenes. With respect to IQ, flavonoids of low polarity were the most active compounds: The parent compounds …