Mutagenic potentials of certain herbal extracts in mutant strains of salmonella typhimurium

ABSTRACT

Damage to DNA appears to be the major cause of most cancer and genetic birth defects and may contribute to aging heart diseases. The genetical damage can be caused by many substances used in medicine, industry, pest control and food preservatives. The present study investigated the mutagenic potentials of certain medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine, using five mutant strains of salmonella typhimurium/mammalian microsome in-vitro test [Ames test]. The histidine-dependent strains [TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537, and TA 1538] were used to detect DNA frame shifts and base-pair substitutions, which were recommended for preliminary screening of potential mutagens and carcinogens. Three different concentrations of each extract were used in the presence and absence of activated rat liver microsomal enzymes [S9 mix] to detect whether they produce direct or indirect genotoxic activity. Positive controls using diagnostic mutagens were also used to confirm the reversion properties and specificity of each strain and efficacy of the S9 mix. The results showed that extracts of the 16 herbs investigated did not induce mutations in the Salmonella mammalian microsome general mutagenicity test of Ames in concentrations up to 10 mg/plate