Objective To assess the toxicological safety and to explore the antioxidative function of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr pigment. Method Acute toxicity，formation of micronucleus in born marrow cells and abnormality of sperm in mice， Ames test and 90-day feeding test in rats were used to assess the toxicological safety of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr pigment. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px and the content of MDA in serum and hepatic tissue were determined by the end of the 90-day feeding test in rats. Results The oral LD50 of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr pigment in mice was more than 30 000 mg / kg BW，which indicated that it belongs actually to a non-toxicity substance. The results of Ames test，micronucleus test and sperm shape abnormality test in mice were negative. No obvious adverse effect was observed in the 90-day feeding test in rats. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px in serum and hepatic tissue for all dosage groups in rats were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0. 05) . There was no significant difference on MDA levels between test groups and the control group ( P > 0. 05 ) . Conclusion Nitraria tangutorum Bobr pigment was not toxic tested by acute toxicity， subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity. There may be an anti-oxidative function of Nitraria tangutorum Bobr pigment and further evaluation is deserved.
