Mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of fruit juices of five medicinal plants in Allium cepa L.: Possible influence of DPPH free radical scavengers

Abstract

Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of freeze dried fruit juices (FDFJ) ofTesting the mutagenic activity, onions were suspended in solution of different concentrations of FDFJ alone in tap water for 48 h. Thereafter, root tips were prepared and observed for dividing cells and chromosomal aberrations using a light microscope. Antimutagenicity screening was similar to the mutagenic evaluation, except that the solution of FDFJ was combined with 0.1% cylophosphamide-CP. Free radicals (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhyrazyl) scavenging activity of the FDFJ was tested using butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as the standards and their phenolic contents were evaluated by comparing with gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The free radicals scavenging power of M. fragrans at 1 mg/ml was almost similar to that of BHA and BHT and its phenolic content was 21 ± 6.0 mg GAE/g, the highest among the tested juices. A. cepa cell division was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the FDFJ of M. fragrans, while the induced chromosomal aberrations were non dose dependent. The cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations of CP were suppressed throughout the tested concentrations of M. fragrans, unlike the effects of other four juices. These results suggest that the observed activities of FDFJ of M. fragrans may be due to the quantity and quality of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, suggesting its use in preventing the DNAdamaging effects of mutagens.

Modulation of Mutagen-Induced Genotoxicity by two Lesotho Medicinal Plants in Allium cepa L

“…CP at a concentration of 1% (1 mg mL -1 ) was also both toxic, i.e. significantly reduced the mitotic index (MI) and clastogenic, significantly induced chromosome aberrations, in treated onion root meristem cells (Akeem et al, 2011).…”

“…The modulatory effect (ME) of plant extract on CP-or EMS-induced genotoxicity (GT) was calculated using a modified formula of Akeem et al (2011):…”

Anti-mutagenic Action of Ruta chalepensis against Rat Sperm Cell Abnormalities-induced by Potassium Bromate

“…In general, plants including fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants such flavonoids and phenolic compounds [15]. These phytochemicals were proven to be effective against various mutagens either through scavenging free radicals or by their reducing power [16].…”

Antimutagenic effects of aqueous fraction of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) leaves on Salmonella typhimurium and Mus musculus.

“…Previous studies on evaluation of M. fragrans extracts for different activities such as antimicrobial, anxiogenic, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, hypolipidemic and anticarciogenic effects had employed the fruit, dried seed (nutmeg), aril (mace), and bark of this plant (Sulaiman and Ooi, 2011;Piaru et al, 2011). No known reports had ever considered the leaves of M. fragrans for similar investigation before our previously reported remarkable DPPH free radical scavenging activity and suppression of cyclophosphamide-induced chromosomal aberrations by the fruit juice and leaf extract of M. fragrans in the Allium cepa test (Akinboro et al, 2011a;Akiboro et al, 2011b). The results of our preliminary investigation on mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of methanol leaf extract of M. fragrans using in vitro and in vivo genetic models revealed the presence of phytochemical(s) that could be employed for the development of anticancer therapeutics (Akinboro et al, 2012).…”