Evaluation of the Mutagenic Activity of Persicaria odorata (Lour.) Extract Using the Ames Test

Abstract

Persicaria odorata Lour., a plant that grows abundantly throughout Thailand, has attracted significant attention from agriculturists, the general public, and researchers due to its potential health benefits. Although products derived from this plant are mass-produced and widely available, data regarding their toxicity and safety remain limited. This study evaluated the mutagenic activity of an 80% ethanolic extract of Persicaria odorata Lour. using the AMES test complied with the OECD test guideline No.471. Four strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537) and Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA were treated with six different concentrations of the extract (15, 50, 150, 500, 1,500 and 5,000 µg/plate) with and without S9 enzyme. The results showed that the extract increased the revertant colonies in TA98 and TA1537 strains treated at a concentration of 5,000 µg/plate. In the presence of S9 enzyme, a more than 2-fold increase in revertant colonies was observed in TA98 at 5,000 and 1,500 µg/plate, and in TA1537 at 5,000 µg/plate. No significant abnormalities were detected in the background lawn. The observed mutagenicity of the extracts at the tested concentrations suggests the potential for genetic abnormalities. Further studies, including those animal models, are necessary to confirm these findings and to comprehensively evaluate the safety profile of this plant extract.