Evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Juniperus phoenicea leaf extracts with allium test

Abstract EN

Juniperus phoenicea has been used for years in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidants.

In this study, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Juniperus phoenicea leaf extracts on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa have been examined.

Onion bulbs were exposed to different concentrations of Juniperus phoenicea and then submitted to microscopic analysis using acetocarmine stain.

Distilled water was used as a negative control.

The results showed that, under the testing conditions, the mitotic index (MI) of the onion roots submitted to J.

phoenicea leaf extracts treatment did not differ significantly from the negative control, which suggests that the J.

phoenicea is not cytotoxic.

Low incidence of chromosome aberrations in the cells treated with J.

phoenicea leaf extracts was also observed, indicating that the J.

phoenicea does not have genotoxic effect either.

The mitotic index and the chromosome aberration frequency responded to the J.

phoenicea concentration, requiring more studies to evaluate the dosage effect on genotoxicity Using Spectrophotometric analysis of DNA concentration and Gel electrophoresis.