Evaluation of toxicity of Thai emmenagogue drugs and their nitrosated products on in vitro human lymphocytes

Abstract

Emmenagogues are herbal medicines widely consumed by Thai women without prescription. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible toxicity of emmenagogue drugs and their nitrosated products by using human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The blood of ten healthy females between 20-35 years of age was tested with various drug concentrations as well as their nitrosated products. Mitomycin C and aminopyrene were used as positive controls. Chromosome aberration such as gap, break and fragment were obtained in this experiment with no statistically significant differences found between treatment and controls. Cell toxicity manifesting as chromosome contraction occurred when the drug concentration increased 20 fold. The results suggest that 1 in 6 nitrosated products can cause chromatid-type aberration. © ISHS 2005.