Effect of food reductones on the generation of the pyrazine cation radical and on the formation of the mutagens in the reaction of glucose, glycine and creatinine.

One of the possible pathways of the formation of mutagens in heated foods is through the pyrazine cation radical generated in the early stage of the Maillard reaction. The aim of the present study was to elucidate how food reductones contribute to the pyrazine cation radical generation in the reaction of glucose (Glc) and glycine (Gly), and to the formation of the mutagens in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies showed that fragrant reductones, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF) and 4-hydroxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (HEMF), generated in the Maillard reactions, enhanced the generation of the pyrazine cation radical in the reaction of Glc and Gly, and the reaction of DMHF or HEMF with Gly generated a larger amount of the pyrazine cation radical than the reaction of Glc and Gly, indicating that the furanones were intermediates of the pyrazine cation radical. By contrast, food antioxidants, ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid, effectively scavenged the pyrazine cation radical generated in the reaction of Glc and Gly. DMHF and HEMF were not effective to modulate the mutagen formation in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine, and the mutagenicity produced in the reaction of DMHF or HEMF, Gly and creatinine was lower than that produced in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine. On the other hand, ascorbic acid and erythorbic acid were effective to decrease the mutagen formation in the reaction of Glc, Gly and creatinine.