Genotoxic Effects of Aristolochic Acid in the Mouse Micronucleus Test

Abstract

Aristolochic acid was screened in the micronucleus test for genotoxic effects on bone marrow cells. Male and female mice were each given a single intravenous injection of 6, 20, or 60 mg/kg. There was also a negative control group given distilled water and a positive control group receiving cyclophosphamide. Within 48 hours of administration, the males treated with 6 mg/kg or over and the females given 20 mg/kg or over showed increases in the numbers of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes that represented statistically significant differences from the negative control.