Evaluation of Mutagenic Potential of Ethanolic Extract of Leaves of <i>Couroupita guianensis</i> using <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i> Tester Strains

Abstract

India has a golden resource and well-recorded traditionally practised incomparable awareness of herbal medicine. Not all herbals are considered safe as minimal data is available concerning the safety of Couroupita guianensis to cause mutations. Considering the enormous therapeutic potential and the absence of specific safety data, we planned this research to provide data on the mutagenic potential of Couroupita guianensis. Therefore, the present study was conducted with ethanolic extract of leaves of Couroupita guianensis using Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA1537, TA1535, TA98, TA100, and TA102 at different concentrations (viz., 156.25, 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500, and 5000 μg/plate) along with the negative control and respective positive controls. The methodology followed was the standard plate incorporation method as per the internationally approved OECD TG 471 guidelines. The study was performed with and without S9 mix using the plate incorporation method. Results were evaluated after meeting the acceptance criteria for the study. The extracts did not show mutagenicity when compared to the negative control (spontaneous mutation) and respective positive controls. There was no concentration-response increase of revertant colonies in treatments from any strain. This is the first of its kind of research having been conducted following all the internationally set guidelines and evidenced the safety of the plant material. Therefore, it is concluded that ethanolic extract of leaves of Couroupita guianensis did not show mutagenic potential in bacterial reverse mutation test with and without S9 mix.