Comparative Studies on Antigenotoxic Effect of Tulsi ( Ocimum Sanctum) Extract and Wheat Grass (Triticum Aestivum) Extract on Onion (Allium Cepa) Root Tip

Abstract

The present work is designed to evaluate the antigenotoxic effects ofTulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and wheat grass (Triticum aestivum) leaf extract of different concentration (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, I 00%) prepare from 20% stock solution and kept for 24 hrs. duration on untreated onion root tip cell. At 20% and 40% there is little or we can say that no decrement in mitotic index, but at 60% and 80% cone the mitotic index is significantly decreases due to decrease in phase population. When the untreated onion root tip is kept above in 1 00% concentrated leaf extract there was a lethal effect in phases which leads to the great decrement in mitotic index. Thus, leaf extract ofTulsi and Triticum aestivum also act as mitotic inhibitor on onion root tip cell at higher treatment concentration with at constant duration. Preliminary findings revealed that both Tulsi and Catharanthus extracts demonstrated dosedependent antigenotoxic effects on onion root tips. At higher concentrations, the extracts showed an increment in chromosomal aberrations indicating their negative effect on onion root tip. The mitotic index was also decrease significantly in the treated groups, suggesting less cell division and genomic stability. These results suggest that Tulsi and Turmeric extracts possess inherent antigenotoxic properties. It was observed that at 20% there is less decrement in mitotic index, but at 40% and 60% the mitotic index is significantly decreases. When the root tip is kept in 80% and 100% concentrated tulsi leaf and Catharanthus extract it leads to maximum decrement in mitotic index .The fmdings emphasize the potential of these natural products as protective agents at 40% and 60% even in the absence of external genotoxic agents. This result also suggest that tulsi may exhibit stronger antigenotoxic effects compared to Catharanthus roseus in the onion root tip assay. Keyword:Ocimum sanctum, antigenotoxic, Allum cepa, Phases, Mitotic index