Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

10:38
In Vivo Alkaline Comet Assay and Enzyme-modified Alkaline Comet Assay for Measuring DNA Strand Breaks and Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Liver
Published on: May 4, 2016
Ciprofloxacin: in vivo genotoxicity studies
B A Herbold1, S Y Brendler-Schwaab, H J Ahr
1Bayer AG, PH-PD Toxikologie, Gentoxikologie, Gebäude 514, Postfach 101709, D-42096 Wuppertal, Germany. bernd.herbold.bh@bayer-ag.de
Mutation Research
|October 24, 2001
Summary
Ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic, showed no genotoxic effects in vivo despite in vitro findings. Long-term studies confirmed ciprofloxacin is non-carcinogenic, supporting its safety for therapeutic use.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ciprofloxacin is a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
- In vitro studies indicated potential genotoxicity due to inhibition of eukaryotic topoisomerase-II at high concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo genotoxic relevance of ciprofloxacin.
- To assess the safety of ciprofloxacin for therapeutic use.
Main Methods:
- In vivo genotoxicity testing including micronucleus test, chromosome analysis, dominant lethal assay, and unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) tests.
- Comparison with existing in vitro and in vivo data.
- Rodent long-term bioassays for carcinogenicity assessment.
Main Results:
- No genotoxic effects were observed in any of the in vivo test systems.
- Ciprofloxacin demonstrated a lack of carcinogenicity in long-term rodent studies.
Conclusions:
- In vivo studies indicate that ciprofloxacin does not pose a genotoxic risk.
- The findings support the established safety profile of ciprofloxacin for antimicrobial therapy.
Related Concept Videos
In-vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
In vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...

