Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of aqueous extracts of dried Phyllanthus niruri L. (stonebreaker) leaves on Allium cepa L. root meristem cells at four concentrations, 0.02 (usual concentration), 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08mg/mL and exposure times of 24 and 48 hours. For each concentration we used a group of five onion bulbs that were first embedded in distilled water and then transferred to their respective concentrations. The radicles were collected and fixed in acetic acid (3:1) for 24 hours. The slides were prepared by the crushing technique and stained with 2% acetic orcein. Cells were analyzed throughout the cell cycle, totaling 5000 for each control and exposure time. The calculated mitotic indices were subjected to the Chi-squared statistical analysis (p<0.05). From the results obtained it was observed that all four concentrations tested had significant antiproliferative effect on the cell cycle of this test system. We also found the presence of cellular aberrations such as colchicined metaphases, anaphasic and telophasic bridges, and micronuclei in the two exposure times for all concentrations evaluated. Therefore, under the conditions studied the concentrations of aqueous extracts of leaves of P. niruri showed to be cytotoxic and genotoxic.
Highlights
About 70% of the world population uses medicinal plants in primary health care (Frescura et al 2012)
Allium cepa is an efficient bioindicator of the cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants (Fachinetto et al 2007, Sabini et al 2011). This is due to its kinetic properties of proliferation and because it processes large chromosomes in reduced number (2n=16), which facilitates their analysis (Matsumoto et al 2006, Caritá and Marin-Morales 2008, Herrero et al 2012). This test system is effective in the evaluation of mutagenicity of aqueous extracts of plants with medicinal properties since it enables the observation of abnormalities of the mitotic cycle, such as colchicined metaphases, anaphasic and telophasic bridges, and interphase anomalies, such as micronuclei and binucleate cells (Leme and Marin-Morales 2008, Sabini et al 2011)
Due to the widespread use of P. niruri by the population, and the need for further studies on the action of this plant at a cellular level, and considering that the A. cepa system is suitable for assessment of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of aqueous extracts of dried stonebreaker leaves, obtained by popular use, on A. cepa meristematic root cells in two exposure times
Summary
About 70% of the world population uses medicinal plants in primary health care (Frescura et al 2012).
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