EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL GENOTOXICITY AND DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY OF MANJARIX

Aida I El makawy*, Ashraf B Abdel-Naim, Alaa Barakat

Manjarix® is herbal drug composed of ginger and turmeric powdered as active compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity and developmental toxicity of manjarix. The genotoxicity assessment was conducted by in vitro Bacterial reverse mutation assay and in vivo chromosome aberrations and micronucleus test in rats. Bacterial reverse mutations assay was performed in Salmonella typhimurium strains and Escherichia coli (WP2-uvrA/) with and without metabolic activation system (S9 mix). For in vivo study, Manjarix in three doses (250,500 and 1000 mg /kg/daily) was tested. In the developmental toxicity study, Manjarix treated female and male rats were mated to evaluate the effect of Manjarix on their fetuses’ development. Results revealed that Manjarix did not cause any genotoxic effects, as determined by the Ames test, in vivo chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assays. In addition, Manjarix did not show obvious alteration in the reproductive performance or fetal development. Based on these findings, we can conclude that the use of Manjarix in traditional medicine poses no risk.