Evaluation of Chromosome Aberrations and mitotic Index Using Allium cepa Assay with Parthenium Hysterophorus L. Plant extract

Abstract

I o ;tud} tiK g.:notoxic .:fleet of Parlhenium hy.111:rophorus L. extract of ill> different parts (such as leaf. stem and inflorescence) was prepared separately followmg the availabl.: literature. Onion root tips w~rc taken as test material to study the genotoxic effect of difll:rcnt plant parts of Purthenium rhe root tips of onion \\Cre treated \\ith diffen:nt concentrations of Purthl!nium extract (I 0%, 20%. 30%, 40%, 50%) for two diffi.:rent durations i.e.6 hrs and 8hrs at room temperature The treated root tips \\ere then stained by freshly prepared 2% acetocarmine solution. l\1itotic index (Ml) and chromosomal abnormalities (CA) were calculated in both control and treated root tips. The results obtained were analyzed and discussed in the present paper. It al,o revealed that Parthenium extract exerts mitotic depression causing chromosomal abnormalities such as fragments. stickiness, nuclear vacuolation. bridge, laggards and micronuclei. The mitotic abnormalities were gradually increased with increasing concemration and time duration of the extract. The gradation of gcnotoxicity of different parts of Parlhenium as innoresccnce. leaf and stem were noted.it is concluded that Based on the results of above study Parthenium may be considered as a strong genotoxic agent.