Table 9.

The toxicity of Plantago major L. leaf extracts

Extract	Test	Toxic	Comments	Ref.a
Decoction	Ames test, strains TA 1537 and TA 98	+	Direct frameshift mutagens	1
Saline extract	Ames test strains TA 100 and TA 98	−		2
Alcohol extract	Plate incorporation assay with Aspergillus nidulans D-30	−	Stimulation of colony growth	3
Alcohol extract	Aspergillus nidulans somatic segregation assay	−		3
70% Ethanol extract	Brine shrimp (Artemia salina)	+	LC50=7 μg/ml	4
Not stated	i.p. and oral administration in rats	−	LD50=1000 mg/kg i.p., LD50>4000 mg/kg oral	5
Saline extract	COMET assay in human lymphocytes	+	DNA strand brakeage	2

^aReferences: 1, Lim-Sylianco and Shier (1985); 2, Basaran et al. (1996); 3, Ruiz et al. (1996); 4, Schmeda-Hirschmann et al. (1992); and 5, Angelov et al. (1980).