Evaluation of the Genotoxicity of a Gelidium elegans Extract in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract

Gelidium elegans is an edible red seaweed that exhibits a broad range of biological activities. However, there is little known about its genotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of a Gelidium elegans extract in three independent genotoxic tests, including a bacterial reverse mutation test, a micronucleus test, and a chromosomal aberration test. For five different strains of bacteria, the bacterial reverse mutation showed no increased reverse mutation upon exposure to 5000 μg/plate of the Gelidium elegans extract. Moreover, the frequency of micronucleated bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) was not altered by the Gelidium elegans extract. Likewise, the chromosome aberration did not increase in response to the Gelidium elegans extract. Together, these genotoxicity assessment studies suggest that Gelidium elegans extract could be considered a safe dietary ingredient.