Testing natural indigo for genotoxicity

• Published in: Toxicology letters Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Authors: Hesbert, A, Bottin, M C, de Ceaurriz, J, Protois, J C, Cavelier, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.04.1984
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Marrow - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Coloring Agents - toxicity; In Vitro Techniques; Indigo Carmine; Indoles - toxicity; Male; Mice; Microsomes, Liver - metabolism; Mutagenicity Tests - methods; Mutagens; Rats; Salmonella typhimurium - genetics
• ISSN: 0378-4274
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-4274(84)90232-7

The genotoxicity of indigo has been assessed by two short-term tests. The mutagenicity of natural indigo was compared with that of synthetic indigo. Both chemicals were tested using the standard procedure of the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test as described by Ames. The substance exhibits mutagenicity towards strains TA1538 and TA98 when S9 preparations of rat liver induced with Aroclor 1254 were present in the medium. The clastogenic potential was evaluated by the micronucleus test in the bone marrow of male mice. The test compound was administered twice with an interval of 24 h, the animals were killed 30 h and 54 h after the first treatment. When the test compound was given by oral gavage as two equal dosages of 0.1, 1 and 1.2 g/kg body weight, no statistically significant increase in the percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei was observed for any group treated with natural indigo.