Molecular structure-teratogenicity relationships of some fragrance additives.

The embryotoxic effect of some flavour additives was tested on young chick embryos. A certain correlation between the molecular structure of a compound and its teratogenic expression was observed. The presence of an unsaturated bond at C2 near a carbonyl function was found to be more effective than its saturated analogs or the alcoholic derivatives. Short chains or semicyclic structures, as well as additional -OH groups might favour the embryotoxic impact. An additional finding was that the teratogenic effect of a compound seems to be modulated by the dose related lethal effect. A uniform phenotypic expression of the malformation was the rule for all the tested compounds. The possible interreaction between the liposoluble unsaturated carbonyl compounds and the lipid constituents of the embryonic cell membrane is offered as a mechanism for the teratogenic activity of some flavour additives.