# In Vitro Genotoxicity Assessment from the _Glycyrrhiza_ New Variety Extract  
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1 Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Jeonju-si 54896, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, dudwooidenwer.com  
2 Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Jeonbuk National University, 79 Gobong-ro, Iksan 54596, Jeollabuk-do, Korea; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (D.-G.K.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S-H.K.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J-R.S.)  
[PERSON]-[PERSON]. [PERSON]-D.  
and licorice-saponin), flavones (liquidiritigenin and liquiritin), chalcone, coumarin and alkaloids [6,7]. Of the 21 species that comprise the genus _Glycyrrhizia_, only three produce glycyrrhizin (_G. uralensis_ [PERSON], _G. glabra_ [PERSON], and _G. inflata_ [PERSON]), the primary bioactive compound [8,9]. Each of these species of licorice are listed in the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP) (12 th, MFDS 2020). Ironically, when these _Glycyrrhizia_ species are cultivated in Korea, the active component is not present in sufficient quantities to satisfy the standards of the KP, which requires more than 2.5% of glycyrrhizin and 0.7% of liquiritigenin to be considered 'adequate'. The challenges associated with growing licorice, including low productivity, disease, and early leaf fall, mean that the country has mostly depended on imports [10]. To better meet domestic demand, the Korea Rural Development Administration developed a new hybridized _Glycyrrhizia_ variety that combines _G. glabra_\(\times\)_G. uralensis_, called 'Wongam (WG, _G. korshinskyi_)', which is improved the problems of the previously existing species. While WG's properties, homogeneity, and pharmacological effects, such as enhancing immune response, being anti-allergenic, anti-neuroinflammatory, and anti-ulcreative colitis have been reported elsewhere, to date no study of its genotoxicity has been undertaken [11, 12, 13, 14].  
Herbal medicine is generally considered safe in Korea as a consequence of the natural origin of the ingredients that comprise treatments as well as its long-established role in Korean society. However, some toxicological studies have revealed the potential for herbal medicines to induce harmful genetic damage [15, 16, 17, 18]. In other cases, a dearth of toxicity information has occasionally resulted in the misapplication of herbal medicine [19,20]. Toxicological assessments are, therefore, extremely important to public health, and to the regulatory decisions that affect drug safety and drug development.  
Genotoxicity testing assesses the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of potential medicines, pesticides, and chemicals to determine druggability [21]. Genotoxicity tests determine whether compounds induce genetic damage directly or indirectly in vitro and in vivo. A single test is insufficient to determine genotoxicity, which may be the result of various mechanisms. Genotoxicity is therefore assessed through a battery of tests. A typical 3-battery test includes an in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (AMES) test, an in vitro chromosome aberration test, and an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucle test [22]. In this study we performed a nonclinical evaluation of genotoxicity of WG water extract using a 3-battery test.