2-Acetylpyrrole (AP) is a product of model browning system. Reaction of AP with nitrite gives two N-nitropyrroles. Spectral studies including ultraviolet (UV), mass (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infred (IR) and elemental analysis (EA) has suggested the chemical structures of the compounds as 1-nitro-2-acetylpyrrole (NAP) and 1,3,5-trinitro-2-acetylpyrrole (TNAP). NAP and TNAP are modulately mutagenic to the Salmonella TA98 and TA100 in absence of mammalian activation system and are remarkably cytotoxic to mouse C3H10T1/2 cells. These results suggest that the formation of direct-acting mutagens of nitro-derivatives in nitrite-containing food or formed in vivo by nitrosation following ingestion of AP.
