Study on genetic toxicity of Cordyceps sinensis and Panacis quinquefolum compound / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate toxicological safety of Cordyceps sinensis and Panax quinquefolium compound according to the genetic toxicity study. Methods: Mice acute oral toxicity test, Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test, micronucleus test of mice bone marrow and mice sperm shape abnormality test were carried out in the compound. Results: The MTD of the compound was greater than 12.0 g/kg BW for both male and female mice in the acute oral toxicity test, which shows non-toxic substance. The reverse mutation number of Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test in five dose groups did not exceed 2-fold of the spontaneous revertant colony number, nor was there a dose-response relationship, the result of Ames test was negative. Micronucleus rate of each dose group for female mouse were 0.32%, 0.36%, and 0.40%, respectively. Micronucleus rate of each dose group for male mouse were 0.30%, 0.32%, and 0.40%, respectively. Sperm shape abnormality rate of each dose group were 2.4%, 2.3%, and 2.3%, respectively. Micronucleus rate and sperm shape abnormality rate had no significant increase compared with the negative control. The results of micronucleus test of mice bone marrow and mice sperm shape abnormality test were negative. Conclusion: Under this experimental condition, the genetic toxicity of the compound is not found, and it is classified as non-toxic.