Abstract: Prodigiosin is a natural pigment that has the capability of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation in vitro, microbial growth, and exhibits anti-malaria and immunosuppression properties, thereby having a huge application potential. The application of prodigiosin in the food industry is limited due to the lack of knowledge about its acute oral toxicity and genetic toxicity. In the present study, according to the food safety national standards, the acute oral toxicity test of prodigiosin was performed in mice, and the genetic toxicity was assessed by mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test, sperm malformation test and bacterial reverse mutation test. The results showed that acute oral medial lethal dose (LD50) of prodigiosin was greater than 10 g/kg BW. All three genetic toxicity tests gave negative results. In acute oral toxicity test, prodigiosin was found to be non-toxic to mice. Prodigiosin had no toxicity to normal cells and the reproductive system of animals.

Key words: prodigiosin, acute oral toxicity, genetic toxicity, food safety