Abstract
The use of herbal dietary supplements is rapidly growing worldwide with the public striving to improve their health. However, clear evidence for carcinogenicity of several popular herbal extracts in 2-year rodent studies by the National Toxicology Program has raised concerns about their safety. In this chapter, the authors summarize recent findings on the genotoxic effects of three prevalent herbal supplements, Aloe vera, Ginkgo biloba, and goldenseal, with a focus on standard genotoxicity assays. In general, there is a paucity of genotoxicity data for herbal extracts. Recent studies of herbal extract genotoxicity focused on the mutagenicity of their key chemical ingredients. Currently, a need exists for comprehensive understanding of risk versus efficacy profiles, standardization of chemical components, and systematic clinical trials for safe application of herbal products.
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