title: Genotoxicity studies on the root extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow.
abstract: The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow has been used for the treatment against insomnia, amnesia, depression, palpitations with anxiety, and memory improvement. However, there is no sufficient background information on toxicological evaluation of the root to given an assurance of safety for developing dietary supplements and functional foods. As part of a safety evaluation, the potential genotoxicity of the root extract of P. tenuifolia was evaluated using a standard battery of tests (bacterial reverse mutation assay, chromosomal aberrations assay, and mouse micronucleus assay). In a reverse mutation assay using four Salmonella typhimurium strains and Escherichia coli, the extract did not increase the number of revertant colonies in any tester strain with or without metabolic activation by S9 mix, and did not cause chromosomal aberration in short-period test with the S9 mix or in the continuous (24h) test. A bone marrow micronucleus test in ICR mice dosed by oral gavage at doses up to 2000 mg/kg/day showed no significant or dose dependent increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE). These results indicate that ingesting the rot extract P. tenuifolia is not genotoxic at the proper dose.
authors: Research & Development Center, Braintropia Co. Ltd., Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 431-716, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Dankook University, Cheonan-si, Chungnam 330-714, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: newsky73@braintropia.com.
authors: Ki Young
authors: KY
authors: Shin
authors: Research & Development Center, Braintropia Co. Ltd., Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 431-716, Republic of Korea.
authors: Beom Young
authors: BY
authors: Won
authors: Research & Development Center, Braintropia Co. Ltd., Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 431-716, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun Jee
authors: HJ
authors: Ha
authors: Research & Development Center, Braintropia Co. Ltd., Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 431-716, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yeo Sang
authors: YS
authors: Yun
authors: Research & Development Center, Braintropia Co. Ltd., Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 431-716, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyung Gun
authors: HG
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006224:Cricetinae; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D031801:Polygala / Q000737:chemistry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Chromosomal aberration; Genotoxicity; Micronucleus test; Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow; Reverse mutation