Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the mutagenic and anti-mutagenic activities of total terpene ketones from Swertia mussotii (TTKS) at different doses. METHODS：Mutagenic experiments：conventional Ames test and micronucleus test were selected. Ames experiment was used with the incorporation method. Micronucleus test was conducted in mice which were treated orally once a day for 10 days consecutively. Anti-mutagenic experiments：methods in vitro，pre-incubated the TA100 and TA102 strains with CP (200 μg/plate) or MMC ( 2 μg/plate) for 30 minutes，then mixed the above materials with TTKS ( 156，312，625，1 250 and 2 500 μg/plate )，so as to detect the protective effects of TTKS on mutational colonies induced by positive agent. Mice were exposed to CP (40 mg/kg) or MMC (2 mg/kg) after continuous irrigation of TTKS (25，50 and 100 mg/kg ) for 10 days，the micronucleus rate was calculated in order to detect the protective effects of TTKS on non-mutation bone marrow cells. RESULTS：In mutagenic test，TTKS at a dose lower than 2 000 μg/plate induced no obvious increase in mutagenicity of the four strains. TTKS at a dose lower than 40 mg/kg did not increase the micronucleus frequencies of polychromatic erythrocytes. In anti-mutagenic test，comparing with the positive groups of CP and MMC，TTKS at 625－2 500 μg/plate could decrease the colony numbers in T100 and T102 strains. TTKS at 50-100 mg/kg could significantly reduce the rate of micronucleus of polychromatic erythrocytes in mice bone marrow induced by CP and MMC as compared with the positive control. CONCLUSION：Under these experimental conditions，TTKS showed no effect of mutagenesis and could confer significant anti-mutagenic protection.

Key words: total terpene ketones from Swertia mussotii, Ames test, micronucleus test, mutagenicity, anti-mutagenicity