Assessment of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of aqueous root extract of Alstonia boonei De wild using the Allium test

Abstract

Herbal remedies are generally considered safe because they are natural. This study investigated the aqueous root extract of Alstonia boonei De Wild popularly utilized in herbal medicine, for its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity using the Allium test. Two hundred grams of the dried root was macerated in 1500 ml of tap water and left to stand for 24 hours. After filtration, the solution which formed the crude extract was diluted through four concentrations 25%, 50%, 75 % and 100% with a control for comparison. Allium cepa bulbs were planted in the extract for 48 hours, after which the root tips were observed for abnormalities using a microscope. The 25% extract concentration showed the highest range of abnormalities, including disturbed prophase and metaphase, precocious and lagging chromosomes in the anaphase and binucleate cells. The other concentrations showed a high level of prophase accumulation with bi-nucleate and multinucleate cells present, and inhibition of cell division to other phases. The mitotic index showed increasing values, indicative of low genotoxic effect, proving that for minimal amounts of root extract of Alstonia boonei, cytotoxicity can be observed. Therefore, its use as medicine should be viewed with caution despite the low genotoxic effect.

Keywords: aqueous root extract, Alstonia boonei, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity