Authors : Annapurna R. Alvikar and D. K. Gaikwad
Page Nos : 01-05
Description :
The residues of pesticidal compounds and heavy metals leads to the development of carsinogenic or mutagenic effects on non target organisms. Allium cepa assay is commonly used to taste antigenotoxicity of the compounds due to its correlation with mammalian systems. In the present study the mucilage was isolated from fruits of Muntingia calabura, Artocarpus heterophyllus (Lam. Encycl), flowers of Bombax ceiba, Spathodia campanulata (P.Beauv) and inflorescence of Parkia biglandulosa (White and Arn). The mucilage with different concentration were tested for its antigenotoxic potential along with Mercuric chloride as positive control and distilled water as negative control. The pre, post and simaltaneous treatments of mercuric chloride and aqueous extracts of mucilage were given to the Allium cepa root tips. It was noticed that the mitotic index was induced due to pre, post and simaltaneous treatments of aqueous extract of mucilage as compared to mercuric chloride. The chromosomal aberration that is physiological and clastogenic were considerably decreased due to mucilage treatments than the positive control. Thus the mucilage extracts of fruits of Muntingia calabura, Artocarpus heterophyllus, flowers of Bombax ceiba, Spathodia campanulata and inflorescence of Parkia biglandulosa have antigenotoxic potential against the mercuric chloride induced chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa, which may be responsible for the repair of these chromosomal aberrations. Thus the mucilage as polymer can be safely utilized as coating for various pharmaceutical tablets further this can also be applied as an agent of neutralizing the genotoxic effects of various hazards chemicals and pollutants in the environment.
Keywords: Fruits of Muntingia calabura, Artocarpus heterophyllus, flowers of Bombax ceiba, Spathodia campanulata and inflorescence of Parkia biglandulosa, Chromosomal aberration, Mitotic index.
