EVALUATION OF CYTOTOXIC AND GENOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF MEDICINAL PLANT HELICHRYSUM MILL. USING ALLIUM CEPA CHROMOSOME ASSAY

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Helichrysium

Abstract

The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of Helichrysum was evaluated using the Allium cepa assay. The crude extracts of Helichrysum flowers were prepared with distilled water. Onion bulbs were exposed to 50 mg/mL, 100 mg/mL, 200 mg/mL concentrations of each of the extracts for macroscopic and microscopic analysis, respectively. There was concentration-dependent and statistically significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of root growth by the extracts when compared with the control. The EC50 obtained for decoctions of Helichrysum. Aqueous flower extracts decreased MI depending on the treatment time and concentration and caused chromosomal abnormalities at all doses in the root meristems of A. cepa. Observed chromosome aberrations such as C-metaphase, sticky metaphase, metaphase with fragments, disturbed metaphase, polyploid metaphase, anaphase bridge, anaphase laggard, disturbed anaphase, telophase bridge and micronucleus reinforces cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of this medicinal plant.