CLASTOGENICITY OF RED-PEPPER (CAPSICUM-FRUTESCENS L) EXTRACTS

Extracts from the fruits of Capsicum frutescens L. were tested for the ir clastogenicity using the mouse-bone-marrow micronucleus (mouse-MN) assay. Results of the mouse-MN, an in vivo method, indicated that the isolate CF-1 is clastogenic at the maximum tolerated dose of 1.22 mg/k g mouse. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon two-sample test showe d that the null hypothesis, mu(tetracycline) = mu(CF-1), is acceptable at 0.05 and 0.01 degrees of significance. Hence, the clastogenicity o f CF-1 is statistically similar to that of tetracycline, a known clast ogen, at the 5% and 1% levels of significance.