Mutagenicity testing of a herbal tea containing spiny restharrow (Ononis spinosa) root: results of an Ames-Test

The genus Ononis belongs to the family of Leguminosae. The dried root of Ononis spinosa is used for the irrigation of the urinary tract, especially in cases of inflammation and renal gravel and as an adjunctive treatment of bacterial urinary tract infections [1]. A publication of Joksic et al. [2] revealed increased micronuclei formation in human blood lymphocytes after treatment with an ethanolic Ononis root extract pointing to a possible clastogenic effect. Based on this finding the German health authority BfArM required further genotoxicity testing from the marketing authorisation holders. An in vitro bacteri…