Lack of emodin genotoxicity in the mouse micronucleus assay.

The study was performed to investigate the potential of emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) to induce micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). Mice of both genders received a single oral dose of 2000 mg emodin/kg and were killed 24 and 48 h later. Bone marrow cells were collected from 5 males and 5 females and 2000 PCEs per animal were scored for the presence of micronuclei. There was no enhancement in the frequency of micronuclei at both preparation intervals when compared to the negative controls. Blood level examinations confirmed the systemic availability of emodin. Plasma levels of up to 190 micrograms emodin/ml represented concentrations being in the concentration range that induced positive responses in several genotoxicity cell culture assays.