Chios mastic gum (CMG), the resin of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia, is a product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and of major financial importance in Greece. It presents increasing interest in the global nutraceutical and cosmeceutical market, as scientific evidence about its biological effects continuously grows [1]. However, little is known concerning its potential toxicity, especially after extended or high dose consumption [2,3]. In this study the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of CMG were investigated.
CMG was orally administered by gavage to rats at 2000mg/kg b.w. (OECD 423 guideline). The bioavailability of the resin was ensured after the unambiguous detection of its characteristic triterpenic acids in plasma by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. No signs of toxicity, mortality or adverse effects in terms of body weight changes and gross organ pathology were observed. Histopathological analysis of the liver, was also carried out. Ongoing HRMS-based metabolomics analysis in plasma, urine and liver is expected to produce valuable information regarding the metabolic pathways possibly triggered or suppressed after oral administration of CMG.
The CMG genotoxic potential was investigated in vivo using the Mammalian Erythocyte Micronucleus Test (OECD 474 guideline). CMG was orally administered to rats at 2000mg/kg b.w. for three consecutive days. The administered doses were well tolerated by the rats and no signs of toxicity were observed. The characteristic mastic triterpenic acids were unambiguously detected in bone marrow, one and two hours after administration. The analysis of the results as regards the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes is still in progress aiming to bridge the scientific information gap in relation to the genotoxicity of CMG, not studied before.
[1] EU herbal monograph on Pistacia lentiscus L., resin (mastix). 5 Jun 2016.
[2] Doi K, et al. Toxicol & Applied Pharmacol 2009, 234: 135-142.
[3] Katsanou E, et al. PLoS ONE 2014, 9: e100190.