Abstract
The genotoxicity of plant phenolics, including pyrogallol, gallic acid, resorcinol and catechin, and a water extract and tannin fraction of betel nut ( Areca catechu) was examined at pH levels ranging from 5 to 10. Strain D7 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used since the cells can withstand a wide range of pH levels without any loss of viability. At alkaline pH ranges, the examined phenolics and betel nut extracts induced mitotic conversion, whereas they lacked this capacity at acid pH levels. This phenomenon may be due to the rapid autoxidation of phenolics under alkaline conditions, which leads to the generation of H 2O 2 and free radicals. The results indicate that plant phenolics may pose a genotoxic hazard during chewing of lime-containing betel quid and tobacco which causes the salivary pH to rise above 8.
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