Genotoxicity evaluation of fucoidan-rich Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll

The aim of this study was to investigate genotoxicity of fucoidan-rich Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll (FUPS) using a three-component test battery. Our sulfate analysis method showed that FUPS extract contained 14% fucoidan sulfate. The reverse mutation assay showed that the FUPS extract did not increase the number of revertant colonies in any of the five bacterial strains tested, regardless of metabolic activation by S9 mix. Furthermore, FUPS did not induce chromosomal aberrations in the 6-h short-term test with or without S9, as well as in the 24-h continuous test without S9. Finally, bone marrow micronucleus examination of ICR mice at oral doses up to 5000 mg/kg/day did not show a significantly dose-dependent increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) or the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) to total erythrocytes. In conclusion, it was determined that the FUPS extract does not have a significant genotoxic potential under the expected conditions of use.