Assessment of genotoxicity and carcinogenic potential of animal-based traditional Chinese medicine

抄録

Animal-based traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of use in treating various health conditions throughout Asia. Despite its widespread use, there is a lack of research on the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects associated with prolonged consumption of these animal-based TCM substances, raising safety concerns. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of animal-based TCM using in vitro assays such as comet assay, micronucleus test, and transformation assay on selected samples. Our results indicate that within the tested experimental concentrations (< 800 μg/mL), the animal-based TCM did not exhibit significant cellular genetic damage in the in vitro CHO-K1 cell micronucleus test and HepG2 cell comet assay. Furthermore, no significant changes in cell proliferation of HepG2 cells and transformation of Bhas 42 cells were observed during the carcinogenicity assessment. Our findings suggest that the animal-based TCM showed no genotoxic or carcinogenic effects in in vitro assays within the tested concentration range (< 800 μg/mL). This provides a toxicological foundation for future clinical applications of animal-based TCM. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of evaluating the safety profile of animal-based TCMs before they are used for medicinal purposes. Further research is needed to identify specific compounds responsible for genotoxic effects and develop safer alternatives or purification methods for these medicines.

Key words: Animal-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Genotoxicity, Carcinogenicity.