Synthesis of imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives and their ability to induce recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila (fruit fly)

Abstract

Many derivatives of imidazole and benzimidazole are widely used in industry, agriculture, photography, as well as in medical practice [1-4, 6, 9-11, 13]. Most of them have been studied for toxicity. The mutagenic activity of these compounds still has been little investigated. It was shown that benzimidazole does not show mutagenic activity on Drosophila melano~aster [2] but for Salmonella typhimurium it is a mutagen [12]. It is not known whether this activity is characteristic for benzimidazole derivatives, it is possible that imidazole and benzimidazole do not induce mutation in eucaryotes. Considering the widespread use of imidazolides and benzimidazolides in the national economy, the clarification of their mutagenic action in eucaryotes and in humans is of great interest.