[An antimutagenicity study of bioginseng]

We studied antimutagenic properties of bioginseng, a biotechnological product obtained from the callus culture of the ginseng root cells by alcohol extraction (bioginseng-1) and lyophilization (bioginseng-2). We have estimated the frequency of sister-chromatid exchange and chromosome aberrations in the culture of Chinese hamster cells, of chromosome aberrations in cells of the Ehrlich-ICF ascite strain, and of micronuclei in the mouse bone marrow cells. The bioginseng exerted an antimutagenic effect with respect to nitrosomethylurea and cyclophosphamide. The sister-chromatid change in the culture of Chinese hamster cells decreased under the influence of bioginseng due, apparently, to enhanced DNA repair. The most distinct protective effect was observed when ginseng was introduced 2 h prior to the cell treatment with mutagens.