Toxicity evaluation of water extract of tissue-cultured Taraxacum formosanum by acute, subacute administration, and Ames test

摘要

BackgroundTaraxacum species(commonly known as dandelion) used as herbal medicine have been reported to exhibit an antiproliferative effect on hepatoma cells and antitumor activity in non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Although several investigations have demonstrated the safety ofTaraxacum officinale, the safety of tissue-cultured plants ofT. formosanumhas not been assessed so far. Therefore, the present study examines the safety of the water extract of the entire plant of tissue culturedT. formosanumbased on acute and subacute toxicity tests in rats, as well as the Ames tests.ResultsNo death or toxicity symptoms were observed in the acute and subacute tests. The results of the acute test revealed that the LD50(50% of lethal dose) value of theT. formosanumwater extract for rats exceeded 5?g/kg bw. No abnormal changes in the body weight, weekly food consumption, organ weight, or hematological, biochemical, and morphological parameters were observed in the subacute toxicity test. Thus, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) ofT. formosanumwater extract was estimated to be higher than 2.0?g/kg. Finally, the results of the Ames test revealed thatT. formosanumwater extract was not genotoxic at any tested concentration to any of fiveSalmonellastrains.ConclusionsThe water extract of tissue-culturedT. formosanumwas non-toxic to rats in acute and subacute tests and exhibited no genotoxicity to fiveSalmonellastrains.How to cite:Tsai WC, Chang HC, Tseng YH, et al. Toxicity evaluation of water extract of tissue-cultured Taraxacum formosanum by acute, subacute administration, and Ames test. Electron J Biotechnol 2020;45.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2020.04.001.