Toxicological studies of daphnetin

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that daphnetin (DAP) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-arthritic, and other extensive pharmacological effects. However, its genotoxicity has rarely been examined. Materials and Methods: The safety of DAP was evaluated by an acute toxicity test using a Salmonella typhimurium /mammalian microsomal enzyme assay (Ames test), bone marrow micronucleus test, acute skin allergy test, and local mucosal irritation test. Results: Mice received a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight through lavage, which is more than 175 times the whole-body effective dose and were continuously observed for 14 d; mice showed no signs of poisoning. In the Ames test, each dose of DAP resulted in numbers of revertant colonies that were P u003e 0.05) but was significantly different from that of the cyclophosphamide (CTX)-positive control group ( P Conclusions: Within the range of tested doses, DAP did not cause any observed toxic effects, mutagenic effects, sensitization, or stimulation. Abbreviations used: DAP: Daphnetin, CTX: Cyclophosphamide, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, CIA: Collagen-induced arthritis, PCB: Polychlorinated biphenyl, NS: Normal saline, PCE: Polychromatic erythrocyte, NCE: Normochromatic erythrocyte; LD50: The median lethal dose.