Lavandula genus is an important member of Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. People use commonly Lavandula stoechas as a medicinal plant for various diseases around the world and also in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts (40, 80 and 120 g/L) from L. stoechas flowers on Allium cepa root tip meristem cells. For this purpose, A. cepa onion bulbs were treated with the above-mentioned L. stoechas flower extracts for 72 h. Spring water (pH 7.3) was used as a control. The result of this study sowed that aqueous extracts reduced mitotic index, but induced chromosome aberrations and mitotic aberrations in comparison with control, significantly (p < 0.05). Aqueous extracts induced breaks, stickiness, pole deviations and micronuclei. Furthermore, these effects were related to extract concentrations. These results showed that L. stoechas aqueous extracts have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects.
I. viscosa has been used for years in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiseptic, and paper antiphlogistic activities. In this study, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of I. viscosa leaf extracts on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa have been examined. Onion bulbs were exposed to 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, and 10 mg/ml concentrations of the extracts for macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Tap water has been used as a negative control and Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) (2 · 10−2 M) has been used as a positive control. The test concentrations have been determined according to doses which are recommended for use in alternative medicine. There has been statistically significant (P < .05) inhibition of root growth depending on concentration by the extracts when compared with the control groups. All the tested extracts have been observed to have cytotoxic effects on cell division in A. cepa. I. viscosa leaf extract induces the total number of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MNC) formations in A. cepa root tip cells significantly when compared with control groups. Also, this paper shows for the first time the induction of cell death, ghost cells, cells with membrane damage, and binucleated cells by extract treatment. These results suggest the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the I. viscosa leaf extracts on A. cepa.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities of diethyl ether, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water (infusion and decoction) extracts from Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) seeds. Materials and methods: Antioxidant activities of crude extracts from V. agnus-castus L. seeds were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay, and anticancer activity of the extracts on MCF-7 breast cancer cells of extracts were evaluated by determining cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic activities with trypan blue exclusion assay, comet assay and Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide double staining. Results: Although V. agnus-castus L. methanol and water (infusion and decoction) extracts showed significant DPPH scavenging activity, diethyl ether, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts have low DPPH scavenging activity. However, all of the extracts showed a significant cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic effects in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cytotoxic, DNA damaging and apoptotic activities of the extracts increased in concentration dependent manner. Conclusion: Our results suggest crude extracts of V. agnus-castus seeds have potent antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic activity. Further investigations are required for the isolation and identification of individual phenolic compounds in the extracts.
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