THE PRESENCE OF 2-AMINO-3, 8-DIMETHYLIMIDAZO[4, 5-f]QUINOXALINE IN SMOKED DRY BONITO (KATSUOBUSHI)

Abstract

Smoked dry bonito (katsuobushi), an everyday food item for most Japanese people, was found to contain 2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo [4, 5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), the content of which was estimated at about 2ng/g. This content is similar to the known MeIQx content of cooked beef. The katsuobushi also contained another mutagenic component, the total activity of which was 1/6-1/3 that of the MeIQx. This component was similar to 2-amino-3, 4, 8-trimethylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoxaline (4, 8-DiMeIQx) with respect to its behavior in high-pressure liquid chromatography and its ultraviolet absorption spectrum.