Forward Gene Mutation Assay of Seven Benzophenone-type UV Filters using L5178Y Mouse Lymphoma Cell

The effects of high energy short wave solar radiation on human skin have received much publicity as the major cause of accelerated skin ageing and of skin cancers. To meet public demand, the cosmetic industry has developed sun protection factor products, which contain a variety of so-called "UV filters", among others benzophenone (BP) and its metabolites are the widely used UV filters. UV filters are also used to prevent UV light from damaging scents and colors in a variety of cosmetics products and to protect of plastic products against light-induced degradation. There are many variants of BP in use. In this respect, to regulate and to evaluate the hazardous effect of BP-type UV filters will be important to environment and human health. The genotoxicity of 7 BP-type UV filters was evaluated in L5178Y $(tk^{+/-})$ mouse lymphoma cells in vitro. BP, benzhydrol, 4-hydroxybenzophenone 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and 2, 4-dihydroxybenzophenone did not induce significant mutation frequencies both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation system. 2, 2'-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone appeared the positive results at the highest dose, i.e. 120.4 ${\mu}g/mL$ only in the absence of metabolic activation system. And also, 2, 3, 4-trihydroxybenzophenone revealed a significant increase of mutation frequencies in the range of 138.1-207.2 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the absence of metabolic activation system and 118.3-354.8 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the presence of metabolic activation system. Through the results of MLA with 7 BP-type UV filters in L5178Y cells in vitro, we may provide the important clues on the genotoxic potentials of these BP-type UV filters.