Determination of the mutagenic potential of commonly marketed Ghanaian medicinal plant formulations using the bacterial reverse mutation assay

Abstract

The mutagenic potential of nine commonly marketed Ghanaian medicinal plant aqueous extract formulations determined using the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) were found to be non-mutagenic. In contrast, one extract, E8 was found to be anti-mutagenic as determined using either a frameshift or a base pair substitution mutant of S. typhimurium in the metabolic activation system. E8 was also found to possess antimicrobial activity against Moraxella catarrhalis.