| Summary: | Extracts of <i>Rheum palmatum</i> L., <i>Rhamnus purshiana</i> DC., <i>Rhamnus frangula</i> L., and <i>Cassia senna</i> L. are used in traditional medicine thanks to their beneficial properties. These species contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives, considered genotoxic and possibly related to colorectal cancer development. This research aimed to study, using a micronucleus assay in vitro, the genotoxic potential of <i>Rheum palmatum</i> L., <i>Rhamnus purshiana</i> DC., <i>Rhamnus frangula</i> L. (bark), and <i>Cassia senna</i> L. (leaves and fruits) extracts. The extracts were evaluated at different concentrations: from 0 to 2000 µg/mL for <i>Rhamnus purshiana</i> DC, from 0 to 2500 µg/mL for <i>Rheum palmatum</i> L. and <i>Rhamnus frangula</i> L., and from 0 to 5000 µg/mL for <i>Cassia senna</i> L. The cytokinesis-block proliferation index was calculated to analyse if the used concentrations showed cytotoxicity. The hydroxyanthracene content varied between 0.06% and 0.23% for aloe-emodin, and between 0.07% and 0.16% for emodin and rhein. No cytotoxic effect was detected at any of these concentrations. Micronucleus analyses showed a lack of genotoxicity for all the extracts tested. These results show that <i>Rheum palmatum</i> L., <i>Rhamnus purshiana</i> DC, <i>Rhamnus frangula</i> L., and <i>Cassia senna</i> L. extracts do not induce genotoxicity since no increase in micronuclei formation in human lymphocytes in vitro was detected.
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