Abstract: Objective: The paper studied the toxicological safety of the pigments of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. Method: The toxicological safety properties were examined by tests of acute toxicity, Ames test, bone marrow cell micronucleus, sperm shape abnormality test, thirty days feeding test. Results: According to the result of acute toxicity LD50 test in mice, the LD50 of pigment of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. was more than 24 g/kg bw, which fell into the scale of non-toxicity. The negative results were observed in the genetic toxiticy test of Ames experiment,bone marrow cell micronucleus, sperm shape abnormality test. Abnormal phenomena had not been found in 30 days feeding test under the experimental dosage range of 2.4, 1.2, 0.24 g/kg bw. Conclusion: The pigment of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. has good edible-safety properties, can be used widely as natural food plant- pigment.

Key words: Lycium ruthenicum Murr, pigment, safety, toxicity tests