Genetic toxicity of Epimedium koreanum Nakai

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Eastern Asia, E. koreanum Nakai (EKN) has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac herbal medicine. However, there was no available information for its genotoxicity. This study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxic potentials of EKN.

Materials and methods: The phytochemicals of EKN were identified using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Three standard battery of genotoxicity assay for bacterial reverse mutation, mammalian chromosomal aberration and in vivo micronuclei formation was employed.

Results: The LC/MS/MS analysis revealed four hydroxybenzoic acids, three lignans, and ten flavonoid glycosides in EKN. The bacterial reverse mutation assay revealed no mutagenic effects of EKN. Moreover, EKN did not show any clastogenic effects in the in vivo and in vitro assays.

Conclusion: EKN water extract was shown to be a non-genotoxic herbal medicine under the conditions tested in this study.

Keywords: (±)-Cycloolivil (PubChem CID: 5316262); (−)-Olivil (PubChem CID: 5273570); Bacterial reverse mutation; Caffeic acid (PubChem CID: 689043); Chromosomal aberration; Epimedin A (PubChem CID: 92043273); Epimedin B (PubChem CID: 5748393); Epimedin C (PubChem CID: 5748394); Epimedium koreanum Nakai; Epimedoicarisoside A (PubChem CID: 92043273); Epimedokoreanoside I (PubChem CID: 44259076); Icariin (PubChem CID: 5318997); Icariside II (PubChem CID: 44587252); Korepimedoside C (PubChem CID: 5318835); Mouse micronucleus; Phytochemicals; Protocatechuic acid (PubChem CID: 72); Quercetin-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (PubChem CID: 5281643); Quercitrin (PubChem CID: 5280459); Trans-ρ-coumaric acid (PubChem CID: 637542); ρ-Hydroxybenzoic acid (PubChem CID: 135).