A Review of the Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Anthraquinone Derivatives

Anthraquinones (AQs) are a group of functionally diverse chemicals structurally related to anthracene. Both natural and synthetic AQs have widespread applications throughout industry and medicine, thereby indirectly and directly exposing the human population. Because of the close similarity in structure between AQs and the toxic analogue, anthracene, there is concern over the potential damage which these compounds may produce. This review summarizes the toxicity and carcinogenicity of synthetically-derived AQs in experimental animals, classified into 3 categories based upon phenolic, amino, or nitro substitution to the AQ ring structure. The effect of chemical substitution in relation to toxicity and carcinogenicity is discussed.