Effects of Chinese Medicinal Plant Extracts on Mutagenicity of Trp-P-1

Extracts of 29 traditional Chinese medicinal plants were tested for their modifying effects on the mutagenicity of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) by the Ames assay. Aqueous extracts of Xanthium sibricum Patr. ex WIDD., Cyathula officinalis KUAN, Polygonum cuspidatum SIEB. et ZUCC, Terminalia chebula RETZ., Zanthoxylum, bungeanum Maxim., Glycyrrhiza uralensis FISCH., Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides LAM. and Polygonum bistoria L. strongly inhibited the mutagenicity of Trp-P-1. 60% EtOH extracts of G. uralensis Fisch., P. cuspidatum SIEB. et ZUCC, Aristolochia manushuriensis KOM., P. bistorta L., Lindera aggregata (SIMS) KOSTERM and Dioscorea bulbifera L. also showed significant inhibitory activities in the same assay.