Evaluation of genotoxicity of ethanolic extracts of Platostoma palustre by micronucleus assay

Platostoma palustre (Pp) jelly is a traditional food. Pp has been used as folk medicine and is effective against heat-shock, hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ethanolic extracts of Pp’ genotoxicity. The ethanolic extracts of Pp by using 40% ethanol for extraction. Evaluation of genotoxicity of ethanolic extracts of Pp by micronucleus assay was performed in vivo. During the in vivo genotoxicity-evaluated experiment, the experimental animal’s clinical behavior, body weight (BW), food consumption, and the percentage of RET/RBCs (reticulocytes/red blood cells) and MN-RET/RETs (micronucleated reticulocytes/reticulocytes) after the treatments of Pp ethanolic extracts were evaluated. Both sexes Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were given three daily treatments by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of mitomycin C (genotoxicity induction) or by oral route of 200 μL of PBS (normal control group). Until 48 h after the last treatment, K2-EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood specimens were collected. These blood samples were processed for the microscopy-based analysis using Giemsa stain and the percentage of reticulocytes and micronucleated reticulocytes was determined. The results were shown that the experimental animal’s clinical behaviors were normal in all groups. The BW and food consumption were no significant difference between all groups. RET/RBCs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the high dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, the middle dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, and the low dose of Pp ethanolic extract group were respectively 7.8 ± 0.8 / 8.6 ± 0.8, 23.2 ± 1.5 / 22.1 ± 1.3, 22.8 ± 1.6 / 22.1 ± 1.7, 23.2 ± 1.5 / 22.6 ± 1.0 and 22.2 ± 1.9 / 23.9 ± 1.9; MN-RET/RETs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the high dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, the middle dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, and the low dose of Pp ethanolic extract group were 2.0 ± 0.0 / 2.0 ± 0.0, 43.2 ± 10.6 / 39.6 ± 10.9, 1.8 ± 0.4 / 1.6 ± 0.5, 1.6 ± 0.5 / 1.4 ± 0.5, and 1.8 ± 0.4 / 1.6 ± 0.5, respectively. Both RET/RBCs (‰) and MN-RET/RETs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group were significantly difference than the other groups (p < 0.001). Taken all results together, Pp ethanolic extracts were without genotoxicity. Therefore, Pp ethanolic extracts were safety.