Effect of Coumarin and its Derivatives on Mitosis and Ultrastructure of Meristematic Cells

Effect of Alkaloid-Free and Alkaloid-Rich preparations from Uncaria tomentosa bark on mitotic activity and chromosome morphology evaluated by Allium Test

“…Chromosome morphology and their changes were photographed under a light microscope (NU Zeiss), using a photographic camera (Nikon). A parallel control treatment in distilled water was employed as previously described (Podbielkowska et al, 1994(Podbielkowska et al, , 1995Keightley et al, 1996).…”

Changes in chromosome structure, mitotic activity and nuclear DNA content from cells of Allium Test induced by bark water extract of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC

“…In order to study the mechanism and broad range of action of the water extracts of Uncaria tomentosa bark, the objective of this work was to determine the influence of the extract on meristematic cells of root tips of Allium cepa L. This model root system of plant cells is commonly used as a test for investigating environmental pollution factors, toxicity of chemical compounds and evaluating potential anticancer properties (Keightley et al, 1996;Kupidłowska et al, 1994;Kuraś and Malinowska, 1978;Majewska et al, 2003;Podbielkowska et al, 1981Podbielkowska et al, , 1995. It has been used since 1938 (Levan, 1938).…”

The Structure and Pharmacological Functions of Coumarins and Their Derivatives

“…A series of couamrin-base analogues (44) were prepared, with structural similarites to gelasatin hydroxamates (45). These showed good binding to the TACE binding in the docking model [122].…”

“…These include the observations that 4-HC decreases tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in melanoma cells line B16-F10 [42], whereas 7-HC inhibits myosin light chain kinase [43] and disrupts the formation of the mitotic spindle microtubules in Allium cepa cells, leading to the random distribution of the chromosomes at metaphase. This is a form of cytotoxicity common to mitotic spindle poisons that inhibit mitosis through modifying microtubule dynamics [44], suggesting that different coumarin compounds may inhibit cell proliferation by interfering with mitotic spindle microtubule function [45].…”