Genotoxicity of extracts of Japanese traditional herbal medicines (Kampo)

概要

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The possible genotoxicity potential of 128 Japanese traditional herbal medicines (Kampo) was investigated using a bacterial reverse mutation test (the Ames test), an in vivo micronucleus test (MN test) in mouse bone marrow cells and an unscheduled DNA synthesis test (UDS test) in rat hepatocytes. Of 128 Kampo extracts examined, 98 did not induce mutations in bacteria while 30 induced mutations weakly in Salmonella typhimurium TA1537. Extracts of Scutellariae Radix, a common herbal drug, and its major components, wogonin, baicalin, and baicalein showed positive responses in the Ames test. Among 30 Ames-positive Kampo extracts, 27 contained these major components of Scutellariae Radix extracts. It is possible that these components contribute to the mutagenicity of the 27 Kampo extracts. Thirty Ames-positive Kampo extracts were also evaluated for their ability to induce chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage in in vivo micronucleus and unscheduled DNA synthesis assays. None of these extracts induced micronuclei and UDS. Wogonin, baicalin and baicalein did not induce micronuclei in vivo. Based on the results in the present study, it is concluded that 98 Kampo extracts had no mutagenic potential in vitro, and that the other 30 Kampo extracts had no genotoxicity in vivo although they showed weak mutagenicity in bacteria.
日本環境変異原学会の論文
2002-05-31