Genotoxicity and anti-genotoxicity of aqueous extracts of herbal recipes containing Luffa cylindrica (L), Nymphaea lotus (L) and Spondias mombin (L) using the Allium cepa (L) assay

Abstract

Management of diseases with medicinal plant is an ancient practice that has improved in recent years. Extracts of Luffa cylindrica (Linn), Nymphaea lotus (Linn) and Spondias mombin (Linn) are used for traditional management of cancer in Nigeria. Four recipes prepared from the combinations of two or three of these plants; L. cylindrica, N. lotus and S. mombin (LNS), N. lotus and S. mombin (NS), N. lotus and L. cylindrica (NL), and S. mombin and L. cylindrica (SL), were evaluated for genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity using the Allium cepa chromosome aberration and root growth inhibition assay. Five concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20%) of each recipe were considered. There was a concentrationdependent inhibition of root growth and reduction of mitotic index in each of the recipe compared with the negative control. All the recipes induced chromosomal aberrations but not significant (p˂0.05) at tested concentrations. The extract of LNS reduced the frequency of chromosomal anomalies induced by lead nitrate. These show the potential of tested extracts to induce and ameliorate cytogenetic damage in Allium cepa.