Zizyphi spinosi semen (Z. spinosi) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and wounds. However, toxicity in high doses was often observed due to the presence of alkaloids. This study was conducted to investigate the potential genotoxicity of Z. spinosi in vitro and in vivo. This was examined by the Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA, Chromosomal aberration was investigated using Chinese hamster lung cells and the micronucleus test using mice. Z. Spinosi did not induce mutagenicity in the Ames test, and it did not produce chromosomal aberration in Chinese hamster lung cells with and without metabolic activation, nor in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow cells in mice. Based on these results, it is concluded that Z. spinosi does not have mutagenic potential under the conditions examined in each study.

ABSTRACT
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
  Chemicals
  Plant material
  Bacterial strains and CHL cells and S9
  Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test
  Chromosomal aberration test
  Micronucleus test
 Results
  Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test
  Chromosomal aberration test
  Micronucleus test
 Discussion
 Acknowledgement
 References

• Mei-Shu Zhang(Biotoxtech. Co. Ltd.,)
• InSeok Bang(Hoseo Toxicological Research Center, Hoseo University)
• ChangSu Kang(Hoseo Toxicological Research Center, Hoseo University)
• Cheol Beom Park(Hoseo Toxicological Research Center, Hoseo University) Correspondence to