Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute and genetic toxicity of aqueous extract of Eriobotrya japonica leaves. METHODS: Acute oral toxicity,bacterial reverse mutation (Ames test),mammalian erythocyte micronucleus and in vitro mammalian cells chromosome aberration assays were used. RESULTS: The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of aqueous extract of Eriobotrya japonica leaves was more than 20.00 g/kg. Using 8-5 000 μg/plate of Eriobotrya japonica leaves in the Ames test,the number of spontaneous revertants did not reach levels 2 times higher than the spontaneous mutation rate,and there was no dose-effect relationship. At the doses of 20.0,10.0 and 5.00 g/kg,the micronucleus rate was not significantly different from the negative control group (P>0.05). At the doses of 625-5 000 μg/mL,the chromosome aberration rate was not significant different from the negative control group(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Under our test conditions,aqueous extract of Eriobotrya japonica leaves did not show acute or genetic toxicity in a variety of tests.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica leaves, aqueous extract, mouse, acute toxicity, genetic toxicity