Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the teratogenic and mutagenic effects of barley green by traditional teratogenicity test and micronucleus test. METHODS：Acute toxicity test：the method of maximum tolerated dose (15 g/kg) was used；micronucleus test：five groups (1.25，2.5，5.0 g/kg barley green dose groups，positive and negative groups) were divided. Marrow smear of the femur bone was stained after two treatments 24 h apart，and the rate of micronucleus was calculated. Teratogenicity test：five groups (1.25，2.5，5.0 g/kg barley green dose groups，positive and negative groups) were also divided. Rats were treated on the 7th day of pregnancy for 10 days. On the 20th day of pregnancy，the appearance，growth and development of fetal rats were checked. In addition，the skeletal and visceral teratogenic changes were also assessed. RESULTS：Acute toxicity test：the level of oral barley green MTD was greater than 15 g/kg. Micronucleus test：bone marrow cell micronucleus rate in each dose group was not different compared with the negative control group (P> 0.05)，but significantly different compared with the positive control group (P <0.01). Teratogenicity test：the appearance，growth and development，the skeletal and visceral teratogenic changes were not different compared with the negative control group (P> 0.05)，but significantly different compared with the positive control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION：The teratogenic and mutagenic effects of barley green were not observed.

Key words: barley green, teratogenicity test, micronucleus test, rats, mice