The assessment of the carcinogenic potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is obtained by a principal component analysis (PCA) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) using hydrophobic (LogP), stereo and electronic parameters (electron affinity, dipole moment and HOMO-LUMO gap) calculated from the AM1 method. The PAH-DNA interaction model is based on the unsynchronized resonating valence bond theory (RVB) developed by L. Pauling. The QSAR study reproduces the experimental values of LD50 in rats with 95% confidence. The PCA analysis classify all the selected compounds as potential carcinogens, an important result since many of these PAH are not classified as carcinogens, indicating the need for an urgent revision of its classification.
Keyword:
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH); quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR); LD50; principal component analysis (PCA); AM1 calculations
