Toxicological and clastogenic evaluation of pinocembrin and pinostrobin isolated from Boesenbergia pandurata in Wistar rats

Abstract

Pinocembrin (5, 7-dihydroxyflavanone) and pinostrobin (5-hydroxy-7-methoxy flavanone) are flavanones present in some natural products including the rhizome of Boesenbergia pandurata. Many reports showed their in vitro biological benefits without safety indication. The toxicity and mutagenicity of both flavanones in male Wistar rats were examined. There were no deaths observed following a single oral administration of 500 mg/kg of both compounds. Body weight, vital organ weights and blood biochemistry values of treated rats were not significantly different compared with those of the control group. The mutagenicity of both flavanones using liver micronuclei in male Wistar rats was assessed. After feeding rats with 1-100 mg/kg for 7 days, the liver micronucleus formation and mitotic cells in hepatocytes were analyzed. Neither phytochemical affected micronucleus formation or mitotic index. Our results indicated that pinocembrin and pinostrobin are non toxic and are not mutagenic to male Wistar rats within the 1-100 mg/kg interval.