Abstract

Flos Chrysanthemi Indici (FCI) was considered as a traditional medicine and regarded as a conventional food in China, Korea and Japan. Toxicological evaluation of carotenoid-type extracts derived from FCI was investigated in the present paper. Acute toxicity of the extracts was evaluated with a single dose administered by the intragastric route to SD rats in dosages of 15 g/kg. After an observation period of 2 weeks after intragastric administration, no mortality or any changes in appearance, behavior occurred for both female and male rats in the high dosages mentioned. Macroscopic and microscopic studies of the internal organs revealed no pathological changes. The observations of acute toxicity test indicated that the extracts were nontoxic. Genetic toxicity of the extracts was assessed by Ames assay in Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102) with and without metabolic activation (S9), by bone marrow micronucleus test and sperm abnormality test in ICR mice. The examinations of genotoxicity assay indicated that the extracts lack genotoxic potential. Although these relatively short-term studies document no toxicity, longer-term use could result in serious toxicity. Further studies are therefore required to study long-term toxicity.

Key words: Acute oral toxicity, carotenoid-type extracts, Flos Chrysanthemi Indici, genetic toxicity.