Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 2-(7-fluoro-3-oxo- 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-6-yl)isoindoline-1,3-diones

The mode of action of 2-(7-fluoro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-6-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-isoindoline-1,3-diones, including the commercial herbicide flumioxazin, had been identified as inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox). As part of continuous efforts to search for new herbicides with high efficacy, broad-spectrum activity, and safety to crops, flumioxazin and its iodo analogue (B2055) were used as lead compounds for further optimization. Series of novel compounds were prepared by multistep synthetic procedures starting from 5-fluoro-2-nitrophenol. All of the test compounds were structurally confirmed by 1H NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Preliminary bioassay data showed that some of them possess commercial levels of herbicidal activity comparable to those of other protox-inhibiting herbicides. One of the best compounds, 5-fluoro-2-(7-fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-ynyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-6-yl)isoindoline-1,3-dione (8e), has IC50 values for velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic) and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) comparable to thos of B2055. With respect to crop selectivity, compound 8e is similar to flumioxazin. Compound 8e is safe to cotton and maize at a rate of 150 g of active ingredient (ai)/ha or less when applied at pre-emergent stage, and it has the best safety to wheat among the tested crops, showing no injury after post-emergent application at 7.5-30 g of ai/ha.     

Development of new fungicides against Magnaporthe grisea: synthesis and biological activity of pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazine,pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]thiadiazine,and pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives

Some pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thione, pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazin-4-one/thione, and pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]thiadiazine-4-one/thione derivatives were synthesized and screened for antifungal activity against the causal agent of rice blast disease, Magnaporthe grisea. In all cases a remarkable inhibition of fungal growth was found in the range from 10 to 200 microg x mL(-1). Several compounds were able to control mycelium growth at a rate of 10 microg x mL(-1), a concentration at which the reference compound tricyclazole was completely ineffective. At least in the case of the most active substance, at the same dose the growth of seedlings or cultured cells of rice was substantially unaffected. Results allowed definition of structural requirements either to maintain or to enhance mycotoxic activity.     

Synthesis and antifungal activities of novel 5-amino-6-arylamino-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one derivatives

A novel approach was developed to regioselectively synthesize new 5-amino-6-arylamino-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one 5 derivatives via a tandem aza-Wittig and annulation reactions of iminophosphorane 2, aromatic isocyanates, and hydrazine in 52-92% isolated yields. The compounds 5 reacted with triethyl orthoformate to give 1,8-2H-pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-4-ones 6 in good yields (62-94%). Their structures were clearly confirmed by spectroscopy data (IR, (1)H NMR, MS), elemental analysis, or X-ray diffraction crystallography. The results of preliminary bioassay indicated that the compounds 5 and 6 possessed high antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea Pers and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Compounds 5 showed much better antifungal activities when R was Me instead of PhCH 2. Especially, compounds 6c, 6g, and 6i inhibited Sclerotinia by 100% at the concentration of 50 mg/L and by 83, 83, and 82% at the dosage of 10 mg/L, respectively.     

Pyrolysis of [14C]-chlorantraniliprole in tobacco

The pyrolysis of [(14)C]-chlorantraniliprole {3-bromo-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinal)-N-[4-chloro-2-methyl-6-[(methylamino)carbonyl]phenyl]-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide} in tobacco was examined. Typically five commercially available cigarettes were treated separately with either [pyrazole carbonyl-(14)C] or [benzamide carbonyl-(14)C]-chlorantraniliprole at a concentration of 20 ppm (μg chlorantraniliprole equivalent/g cigarette weight; main study) to 40 ppm (for degradate identification only). All treated cigarettes were smoked using an apparatus designed to collect mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke through a glass fiber filter and a series of liquid traps. The material balance for recovery of applied radiolabel ranged from 92.4 to 94.9%. Unchanged chlorantraniliprole was the major component found in butt and filter extracts, averaging a total of 17.4-17.9% of the applied radioactivity. A nonpolar degradation product, 2-[3-bromo-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-6-chloro-3,8-dimethyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone, designated 1, represented an average of 10.1-15.9% of the applied radioactivity in the [pyrazole carbonyl-(14)C] or [benzamide carbonyl-(14)C]-chlorantraniliprole cigarettes, respectively. (14)CO(2) was the major degradate, representing an average of 32.9 and 25.1% of the applied radioactivity in pyrazole and benzamide experiments, respectively. In the pyrazole carbonyl label a polar degradate, 5-bromo-N-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (2) was present in the filter extracts at an average of 9.5% of the applied radioactivity. The most nonpolar degradate, 2,6-dichloro-4-methyl-11H-pyrido[2,1b]quinazolin-11-one (3), was present in [benzamide carbonyl-(14)C]-treated cigarettes only and represented an average of 14.7% of the applied radioactivity.     

Alpha-mercaptoketone formation during the maillard reaction of cysteine and [1-(13)C]ribose

The volatiles formed from [1-(13)C]-ribose and cysteine during 4 h at 95 degrees C in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 5) were analyzed by headspace SPME in combination with GC-MS. The extent and position of the labeling were determined using MS data. The identified volatiles comprised sulfur compounds such as 2-[(13)C]methyl-3-furanthiol, 2-[(13)CH(2)]furfurylthiol, [1-(13)C]-3-mercaptopentan-2-one, [1-(13)C]-3-mercaptobutan-2-one, [4-(13)C]-3-mercaptobutan-2-one, and 3-mercaptobutan-2-one. The results confirm furan-2-carbaldehyde as an intermediate of 2-furfurylthiol, as well as 1,4-dideoxypento-2,3-diulose as an intermediate of 2-methyl-3-furanthiol and 3-mercaptopentan-2-one. Loss of the C-1 and C-5 carbon moieties during the formation of 3-mercaptobutan-2-one suggests two different mechanisms leading to the key intermediate butane-2,3-dione.     

Nasunin from eggplant consists of cis-trans isomers of delphinidin 3-[4-(p-coumaroyl)-L-rhamnosyl (1-->6)glucopyranoside]-5-glucopyranoside

Two major anthocyanins were isolated from the acidified methanolic extract of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) by column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. These anthocyanins were interconvertible under room light illumination condition. By means of tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, their structures were identified and elucidated as delphinidin 3-[4-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-l-rhamnosyl(1-->6)glucopyranoside]-5-glucopyranoside (compound 1) and delphinidin 3-[4-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-l-rhamnosyl-(1-->6)glucopyranoside]-5-glucopyranoside (compound 2), respectively. The results indicated that nasunin comprised cis and trans isomers of the p-coumaric acid moiety in its structure.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of a series of N-substituted [2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)]propylamines

A series of N-mono- or N, N-disubstituted [2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)]propylamines and N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]amides were synthesized and tested for their fungicidal activity in vitro and in vivo against a group of plant pathogenic fungi. Some compounds exhibited a fairly good in vitro activity. The replacement of the ether group of tetraconazole with a secondary or tertiary amino group leads to compounds that maintain the antifungal activity on several phytopathogenic fungi, provided that the substituents are not too bulky or lipophilic. The allyl, propargyl, and cyclopropyl groups appear particularly suitable. Although these compounds have some structural similarities with terbinafine and naftifine, which act as squalene epoxidase inhibitors, they maintain the usual mechanism of action of the other triazoles.     

Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity of 2-(Substituted phenoxyacetoxy)alkyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-one

A series of 2-(substituted phenoxyacetoxy)alkyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-ones IIa-s were designed and synthesized on the basis of the previous work for the modification of alkylphosphonates I, and their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, (31)P NMR, (13)C NMR, IR, MS, and elemental analysis. Their herbicidal activities against seven species of weeds were evaluated in a greenhouse. A part of the title compounds such as IIa-g, IIk, IIo, and IIr exhibited significant postemergence herbicidal activity against Abutilon theophrasti , Brassica juncea , Amaranthus retroflexus , and Eclipta prostrate at a dosage of 150 g ai/ha. Structure-activity relationship analyses indicated that the introduction of a phosphorus-containing heterocyclic ring had a favorable effect on herbicidal activity, and their herbicidal activity could be further increased by a reasonable combination of X, Y, and R in parent structure II. It could be found that the title compounds IIa 2-[(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetoxy](methyl)methyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-one and IIr 2-[(4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy)acetoxy](methyl)methyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-one possess high activity and a broad spectrum against all of the test broadleaf weeds with 70-100% inhibition effect at a dosage of 75 g ai/ha, and the title compounds IIa and IIr are safe for corn and wheat at a dosage of 150 g ai/ha. Furthermore, the title compound IIa possesses low rat toxicity. These results suggest that the title compounds IIa and IIr could be potential and selective postemergence herbicides for further development.     

Syntheses, antifeedant activity, and QSAR analysis of new oxa(thia)diazolyl 3(2H)-pyridazinones

Twenty-eight new oxa(thia)diazolyl 3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were synthesized. Some compounds showed good chronic growth activities against the armyworm, Pseudaletia separata (Walker). Their EC50 values were determined in vivo. Nineteen 2-tert-butyl-4-chloro-5-[5'-aryl-2'-(1',3',4'-oxadiazolyl)methoxy]-3(2H)-pyridazinones were quantitatively analyzed using the QSAR procedure. The partial least squares method was applied to find relationships between activity and the physicochemical data. The results showed that dipole moment, molar refractivity, and log P are identified as critical parameters for chronic growth effects.     

Novel protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors: 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2,3]triazin-4-one derivatives

A series of 3 H-pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2,3]triazin-4-one derivatives were synthesized as candidate herbicides by diazotization of different 5(3)-amino- N-phenyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide derivatives prepared by the reaction of substituted 5(3)-amino-pyrazole-4-carbonyl chloride with a substituted aniline. Their structures were identified by (1)H NMR and elemental analyses. The isomers D and E were isolated, and their structures were identified by two-dimensional NMR analyses (heteronuclear single quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The bioassay results showed that some of the title compounds exhibited both excellent herbicidal activity at a dose of 93.75 g/ha and strong inhibition against protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity in vitro. The structure-activity relationship showed that D16 possessed the highest activities both in vivo and in vitro when the N-substituted group of the pyrazole ring was allyl and the N-substituted group of benzooxazinone was propargyl.     

A convenient route to the synthesis of isotopomeric dihydro-2(3H)furanones

A general synthetic procedure leading to isotopomeric dihydro-2(3H)furanones (gamma-butyrolactones) containing two, four, or six deuterium atoms has been developed. The labeled dihydro-2(3H)furanones were synthesized in quantitative yield from the saturated diacid C4 (succinic) or unsaturated diacids C4 (fumaric, maleic, or acetylendicarboxylic) in the presence of Ru4H4(CO)8(PBu3)4 using a deuterium pressure of 180 bar at 180 degrees C. This methodology was applied to the total synthesis of a hexadeuterated matairesinol lignan: The 3,4-bis[[3-methoxy-4-(phenylmethoxy)phenyl]methyl]dihydro-2(3H)furanone-[7,7',8,8',9',9'-D6] (benzyl-protected matairesinol-D6) was fully characterized.     

Degradation of [14C]phosphinothricin (glufosinate) in soil under laboratory conditions: Effects of concentration and soil amendments on 14CO2 production

Summary Degradation of the herbicide phosphinothricin (L-homoalanine-4-yl-(methyl)-phosphinic acid) in a phaeozem was investigated by monitoring the ¹⁴CO₂ release from [1-¹⁴C] and [3,4-¹⁴C]phosphinothricin. The degradation was largely due to microbial activity, since the rate decreased by more than 95% when the soil was sterilized by -radiation. Data obtained with both labels suggested that decarboxylation of phosphinothricin preceded oxidation of its C-atoms 3 and 4, since a metabolite, probably 3-methylphosphinico-propanoic acid, was only labelled when [3,4-¹⁴C]phosphinothricin was used as the substrate. Maximum rates of ¹⁴CO₂ production from both the 1- and 3,4-label positions occurred without a lag phase during the breakdown of phosphinothricin as monitored for a total of 30 days at 5-day intervals. This result indicated that a phosphinothricin-degrading microbial community was already present in the soil. With low concentrations of [1-¹⁴C]phosphinothricin (10.7 mg kg^-1 soil), complete decarboxylation at 25°C was observed within 30 days of incubation, compared to 15.9% ¹⁴CO₂ release from [3,4-¹⁴C]phosphinothricin. Increasing the quantity of the herbicide in the soil (10.7–1372 mg kg^-1) resulted in increased degradation rates, irrespective of whether the herbicide was labelled in the positions 1 or 3 and 4. Addition of glucose and other carbohydrates stimulated ¹⁴CO₂ release while addition of a yeast extract had a negative effect. Glucose stimulation was reversed by ammonium nitrate, suggesting that the microorganisms were using the herbicide as a source of N.     

Synthesis of (-)-[4-3H]epigallocatechin gallate and its metabolic fate in rats after intravenous administration

Because a great deal of attention has been focused on the metabolism of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), quantitative analysis of this compound is required. For this purpose we developed a method of chemical synthesis of [4-(3)H]EGCg. Synthesized [4-(3)H]EGCg showed 99.5% radiochemical purity and a specific activity of 13 Ci/mmol. To clarify the excretion route of EGCg, the radioactivity levels of bile and urine were quantified after intravenous administration of [4-(3)H]EGCg to bile-duct-cannulated rats. Results showed that the radioactivity of the bile sample excreted within 48 h accounted for 77.0% of the dose, whereas only 2.0% of the dose was recovered in the urine. The excretion ratio of bile to urine was calculated to be about 97:3. These results clearly showed that bile was the major excretion route of EGCg. Time-course analysis of the radioactivity in blood was also performed to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters following intravenous administration of [4-(3)H]EGCg. In addition, EGCg metabolites excreted in the bile within 4 h after the intravenous dose of [4-(3)H]EGCg were analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that 4',4"-di-O-methyl-EGCg was present in the conjugated form and made up about 14.7% of the administered radioactivity.     

Metabolic fate of (-)-[4-(3)H]epigallocatechin gallate in rats after oral administration

After oral administration of [4-(3)H]EGCg to rats, the radioactivity in blood, major tissues, urine, and feces was measured over time. The radioactivity in blood and most tissues remained low for 4 h postdose, began to increase after 8 h, peaked at 24 h, and then decreased. Major urinary excretion of radioactivity occurred in the 8-24 h period, and the cumulative radioactivity excreted by 72 h was 32.1% of the dose. The radioactivity in the feces was 35.2% of the dose within 72 h postdose. In the case of rats pretreated with antibiotics (antibiotic-pretreated rats), the radioactivity levels of the blood and urine were definitely lower than those in rats not pretreated with antibiotics (normal rats). The radioactivity recovered in the antibiotic-pretreated rat urine was estimated to be only (1)/(100) of that in the normal rat urine. These results clearly demonstrated that the radioactivity detected in the blood and urine of normal rats mostly originated from degradation products of EGCg produced by intestinal bacteria. Furthermore, a main metabolite in the normal rats was purified and identified as 5-(5'-hydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone 3'-O-beta-glucuronide (M-2). In feces of the normal rats, EGC (40.8% of the fecal radioactivity) and 5-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone (M-1, 16.8%) were detected. These results suggested that M-1 was absorbed in the body after degradation of EGCg by intestinal bacteria, yielding M-1 with EGC as an intermediate. Furthermore, M-2 was thought to be formed from M-1 in the intestinal mucosa and/or liver, then to enter the systemic circulation, and finally to be excreted in the urine. Taking into account all of the above findings, a possible metabolic route of EGCg orally administered to rats is proposed.     

Quantitative model studies on the efficiency of precursors in the formation of cooling-active 1-pyrrolidinyl-2-cyclopenten-1-ones and bitter-tasting cyclopenta-[b]azepin-8(1H)-ones

The yields of the cooling-active compounds 3-methyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-2-cyclopenten-1-one (1) and 5-methyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-2-cyclopenten-1-one (2) as well as the bitter tastants 7-methyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrocyclopenta-[b]azepin-8(1H)-one (3) and 7-methyl-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydrocyclopenta-[b]azepin-8(1H)-one (4) obtained by heating mixtures of possible Maillard-type precursors in model systems varying in temperature, pH value, or water content were determined quantitatively. The results showed that hexose-derived cyclotene is the common precursor for all four tastants and that the formation of each individual tastant is strongly determined by the structure of the nitrogen-containing precursor, e.g., reaction of cyclotene with pyrrolidine formed by thermal decarboxylation of L-proline produced the cooling compounds 1 and 2 only, whereas in the presence of 1-pyrroline formed upon Strecker reactions of L-proline, the bitter tasting azepinone 3 was produced exclusively. In contrast, the structure of the secondary amino acid L-proline enabled the formation of compound 4, whereas the pyrrolidine and 1-pyrroline, respectively, do not generate this tastant. In addition, a nonvolatile, tasteless intermediate, (S)-3-methyl-2-[(2'-carboxy)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-2-cyclopenten-1-one (5), was isolated from the cyclotene/L-proline reaction mixture and could be confirmed as an efficient precursor for the cooling compound 1. The data, obtained by these studies, are the scientific basis to tailor the desired overall flavor of foods by means of a more controlled Maillard-type technology.     

Uptake and metabolic fate of [14C]-2,4-dichlorophenol and [14C]-2,4-dichloroaniline in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine max)

The uptake and metabolism of [14C]-2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and [14C]-2,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) were investigated in wheat and soybean. Seeds were exposed to a nutrient solution containing 50 microM of one of two radiolabeled compounds, and plant organs were harvested separately after 18 days of growth. In wheat, uptake of [14C]-2,4-DCP was 16.67 +/- 2.65 and 15.50 +/- 2.60% of [14C]-2,4-DCA. In soybean, uptake of [14C]-2,4-DCP was significantly higher than [14C]-2,4-DCA uptake, 38.39 +/- 2.56 and 18.98 +/- 1.64%, respectively. In the case of [14C]-2,4-DCP, the radioactivity absorbed by both species was found mainly associated with roots, whereas [14C]-2,4-DCA and related metabolites were associated with aerial parts, especially in soybean. In wheat, nonextractable residues represented 7.8 and 8.7% of the applied radioactivity in the case of [14C]-2,4-DCP and [14C]-2,4-DCA, respectively. In soybean, nonextractable residues amounted to 11.8 and 5.8% of the total radioactivity for [14C]-2,4-DCP and [14C]-2,4-DCA, respectively. In wheat, nonextractable residues were nearly equivalent to extractable residues for [14C]-2,4-DCP, whereas they were greater for [14C]-2,4-DCA. In soybean, the amount of extractable residues was significantly greater for both chemicals. However, in both species, nonextractable residues were mainly associated with roots. Isolation of soluble residues was next undertaken using excised shoots (wheat) or excised fully expanded leaves including petioles (soybean). Identification of metabolite structures was made by comparison with authentic standards, by enzymatic hydrolyses, and by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric analyses. Both plant species shared a common metabolism for [14C]-2,4-DCP and [14C]-2,4-DCA since the malonylated glucoside conjugates were found as the final major metabolites.     

Pyrazole derivatives as photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors: new leads and structure-activity relationship

Four series of new pyrazoles, namely, 5 4-carboxypyrazolo-3-tert-butylcarboxamide and 6 4-carboxypyrazolo-3-cyclopropylcarboxamide derivatives and 10 pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazine-4-one and 9 pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]thiazine-4-thione derivatives, were synthesized and screened as potential inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport. The structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, elemental, and IR analyses. Their biological activity was evaluated in vitro as the ability to interfere with the light-driven reduction of ferricyanide by isolated spinach chloroplasts. Only a few compounds exhibited excellent inhibitory properties in the micromolar range, comparable to those of commercial herbicides sharing the same target, such as diuron, lenacil, and hexazinone. Nevertheless, most of the remaining molecules exerted a remarkable inhibition in the millimolar range. Combined with previous results on 6 pyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine-2,4-dione and 4 pyrazolo[1,5-c][1,3,5]thiadiazine-2-one derivatives, these data allowed a comprehensive analysis of structure-activity relationship. Molecular modeling studies were undertaken to rationalize the structural determinants of activity in terms of shape, size, and molecular fields. Results suggested that the inhibitory potential of these compounds is associated mainly with their electrostatic properties.     

新型除草剂丙酯草醚的微量合成

从苯酚、对氨基苯甲酸和2-甲硫基-4,6-二氯嘧啶出发,建立了包含取代、氧化和缩合等7步反应的丙酯草醚除草剂微量制备方法。最终产物经制备HPLC纯化,其收率为53%,化学纯度大于98%,用MS(EI)、HPLC-MS1、H-NMR、UV等方法确认了丙酯草醚的结构。所建立的丙酯草醚微量制备方法,为放射性同位素标记丙酯草醚的合成奠定了基础。     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani of 2-alkyl (Alkylthio)-5-pyrazolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (Thiadiazoles)

Some series of 2-alkyl (alkythio)-5-((4-chloro)-3-ethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-yl)-1,3, 4-oxadiazoles (thiadiazoles) were prepared as potential fungicides. Their fungicidal activity was evaluated against rice sheath blight, which is a major disease of rice in China. Structure-activity relationships for the screened compounds were evaluated and discussed. It was found that 5-(4-chloro-3-ethyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-yl)-1,3, 4-thiadiazole-2-thione has the higher fungicidal activity.     

Antimutagens in gaiyou (Artemisia argyi levl. et vant.)

Antimutagens from gaiyou (Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant., Compositae) were examined. The methanol extract prepared from aerial parts of this plant strongly reduced the mutagenicity of 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), when Salmonella typhimurium TA98 was used in the presence of the rat liver microsomal fraction. The antimutagens were purified chromatographically while monitoring the antimutagenic activity against Trp-P-2 with a modified Ames test employing a plate method. This purification resulted in the isolation of four strong antimutagens, 5,7-dihydroxy-6,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (eupatilin), 5, 7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxyflavone (jaceosidin), 5,7, 4'-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin) and 5,7, 4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone (chrysoeriol) from the methanol extract. These antimutagenic flavones exhibited strong antimutagenic activity against not only Trp-P-2 but also against other heterocyclic amines, such as 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeA(alpha)C) in S. typhimurium TA98. In contrast, they did not exhibit antimutagenic activity against benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), 2-aminofluorene (2-AF), 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF) or furylfuramide (AF-2) in S. typhimurium TA98, or B[a]P, 4-NQO, 2-NF, AF-2, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or sodium azide (SA) in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, whereas they decreased the mutagenicity caused by aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) and 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) in both of these tester strains. Regarding the structure-activity relationship, the tested flavones had distinct differences in the intensities of their antimutagenic activities according to the differences of their substitution patterns. Namely, the intensity of antimutagenic activities against Trp-P-2 decreased in the order of: 5,7,3',4'-tetrasubstituted flavones (IC(50): <0.1 mmol/plate), 5,7,4'-trisubstituted flavones (IC(50): 0.120-0.260 mmol/plate), 5,6,7,3',4'-pentasubstituted flavones (IC(50): 0.440-0. 772 mmol/plate). The four isolated flavones were also studied regarding their antimutagenic mechanisms with preincubation methods of the modified Ames test and emission spectroscopic analysis. The results suggested that all isolated flavones were desmutagens which directly inactivated Trp-P-2 or inhibited its metabolic activation.