Assessing the impact of different solvents in the bacterial reverse mutation test

The bacterial reverse mutation test is essential for identifying the mutagenic potential of chemicals. The solubility of the test substance is vital for achieving the recommended assay concentration. Preferred solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide and water are chosen for their compatibility and historical data. Selecting a compatible solvent with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA strains, considering a maximum cytotoxic concentration or the limit of 5 mg/plate, can be challenging. This study assessed various solvents, including N,N-dimethylformamide, acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, 95% ethanol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methanol, P-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylacetamide, as alternative solvents in the AMES test. Results showed all solvents, except tetrahydrofuran, were compatible at concentrations up to 100 μL/plate or more, as they did not inhibit S9 enzymes, bacterial growth, or alter bacterial revertant colony counts, making them suitable for the bacterial reverse mutation test.