Genetic toxicity testing of 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one, an important biologically active compound from plant-derived smoke

Aerosol smoke, aqueous smoke solutions and 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one isolated from plant-derived smoke stimulate seed germination and enhance seedling vigour of many species. Consequently, smoke technology has important potential applications in agriculture, horticulture and other environmental sectors. However, use of 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one as a germination promoter and/or growth stimulant is only possible provided it can be shown that it is not hazardous, i.e. not toxic or genotoxic. We therefore performed an investigation to evaluate the genotoxic effects of this compound in five strains of Salmonella typhimurium in the Ames test (1.5 μg/plate to 7.5 ng/plate), and in the VITOTOX® test (1500–0.045 ppb). In all tests performed, no mutagenic activity was induced by 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one, with or without S9 metabolic activation. Due to the potential wide use of this smoke-derived compound, it is of importance that no toxic and genotoxic effects were observed at the concentrations tested.