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Plants have been considered as materials for alternative medicine and sources of pharmaceutical drugs. Despite the therapeutic advantages of medicinal plants, some of their constituents may be potentially toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic potentials. Therefore, the aim of our study is to determine the cytogenetic and genotoxic potentials of aqueous extract of Plantago lanceolata regarding quality, safety and efficiency. The cytogenetic effects were studied by the calculation of the mitotic index, by the study of the interphase and chromosomal aberrations on the mitotic cells in Allium test. We used aqueous extract of Plantago lanceolata solutions with different concentrations: 100%, 75% and 50%. The Allium cepa bulbs were preliminary imbued in water, and then they were treated for 6 and respectively 24 hours in these solutions. The control group was treated with water. Ten bulbs were used for each concentration, treatment period, and control group. In the end of the experiment the harvested root tips were prepared according to Feulgen’s squash technique using Schiff reagent. The cytotoxic effects were investigated by calculating the mitotic index and through the analysis of chromosomes alterations during the mitosis. We prepared five cytological slides, for each slide we have studied 10 microscopic fields with good density of cells for the mitotic index and another 10 different microscopic fields for abnormal interphases and chromosomal aberrations. Compared to the control mitotic index value, the highest value of the mitotic index is 69.8 and was recorded for the experimental variant treated for a 6-hour period at which the Plantago lanceolata extract is at a concentration of 50%, which it means that it had the strongest stimulating effect of the cell division. By analysing comparatively, the weakest effect of cell division stimulation in the case of studied extracts during the 6- hour treatment was for the 100% concentration and the weakest cytotoxic effect was for the 50% concentration. The strongest effect of cell division stimulation for Plantago lanceolata extract during 24-hour treatment was the 100% experimental variant and the weakest effect of cell division stimulation was the 75% experimental variant. In the microscopic fields have been observed very rarely cells with strong chromatin concentrations, unequal cytokinesis, sometimes with longitudinal divisional planes, pyknotic and sticky chromosomes, delayed chromosomes, vacuolization, which are weak effects cytotoxic and mutagens, positive for the possibility of using tested extract in therapeutic applications. In conclusion, regardless of the concentration used, a treatment with a concentration of 50% extract can be recommended for a maximum effect of the treatment, which gives positive results for both short-term and long-term treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different treatments with Bionex on the cytology, the detection of the cytotoxic effects and the mutagen potential of Allium cepa were investigated, in order to be able to use the analysis changes of the cytogenetic abnormalities as an indicator of maximum concentration of Bionex which can be used in agriculture. Four concentrations of this bio fertilizer - 2.5, 5, 10 and 15% - were applied for 24 and 72 h. After sampling radicles then they were stained by the Feulgen technique. All the concentrations of these chemical showed an inhibitory effect on cell division in root tips of Allium cepa and caused a decrease in mitotic index values. Additionally, all the treatments changed the frequency of mitotic phases when compared with the control groups. As concentration of doses increases, the active mitotic index decreases and the phenomenon of chromosomal aberrations increases. The mitosis analysis indicates the development of a number of structural chromosomal aberrations and interphases' aberrations which were identified in the different stages of mitosis, the process of cell division being significantly affected. The prevalent abnormalities reported were scattering, c-mitosis at metaphase and bridges at anaphase while stickiness, unorientation, laggards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an edible plant used as food and spice. In popular medicine it is considered, along with the onions, a real remedy due to the rich content of vitamins and minerals. Pentimethalin is the active component of the herbicide Stomp 330 EC; this is frequently used by the farmers to control weeds in the garlic cultures. Cytogenetic effects of Pentimethalin have been tested on the root tip cells of Allium sativum L., with a series of concentrations (1.5; 2 and 3 ppm), for 6, 12 and 24 hours. The control has been untreated. Garlic bulbs have been grown in water at room temperature (20 ± 2 °C); when the newly emerged roots are 2 cm in length, they are used in the test. Microscopic slides have been prepared by using Feulgen-Rossenbeck method for coloring the chromosomes and squash technique. The measurements were made under an optic microscope (two models have been used: MBL-2000 Kruss and Celestron 44340 LCD Digital) by considering 15 microscopically areas per slide. Two parameters were studied: the mitotic index and chromosomal abnormalities. The number of abnormal cells was counted in each phase of mitosis. The analysis of variance was used to assess the significant differences between control and each treatment. The results were analyzed using statistical program for Windows. The effects of increasing concentrations of Pentimethalin were: decrease in mitotic index and induction of a high level of chromosomal abnormalities. Thus, the mitotic index decreased with increasing the herbicide concentration at each exposure time; on the other hand, various chromosomal abnormalities like rings, fragments, bridges, stickiness, laggards and micronucleus were observed. From this point of view, the bridges were generally observed in all treatment alternatives. The frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities increase with increasing the herbicide concentration. In this regard, the differences among the concentrations have been significant, when compared with untreated control. Our study reveals a direct correlation between herbicide concentration, exposure time and mutagenic effects observed in exposed Allium sativum root cells. Cytologic effects of Pentimethalin to garlic, suggest prudence regarding abusive usage of this substance. However, supplementary studies are necessary to determine the molecular mechanisms whereby Pentimethalin induce genotoxic effects to plants. Besides, there are still many chemical substances for plant protection whose possible genotoxic effects are unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]