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Akinboro A, Mohamed KB, Asmawi MZ, Sulaiman SF, Sofiman OA. 
“Antioxidants in aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) suppressed mitosis and cyclophosphamide-inducedchromosomal aberration in the Allium cepa L. cell”. 
J Zhejiang Univ-Sci B (Biomed & Biotechnol). 2011.
Abstract
Abstract: In this study, freeze dried water extract from the leaves of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) was tested for mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials using the Allium cepa assay. Freeze dried water extract alone, and its combination with cyclophosphamide (CP) (50 mg/kg) were separately dissolved in tap water at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mgs/kg (w/v). Onions (A. cepa) were suspended in the solutions and controls for 48 h. in the dark. Root tips were prepared for microscopic evaluation. DPPH free radicals’ scavenging power of the extract was tested using BHA and BHT as standards. Water extract of Myristica fragrans scavenged free radicals better than BHA, but worse than BHT. The extract alone, as well as in combination with CP suppressed cell division, and induced chromosomal aberrations that were insignificantly different from the negative control (p≤0.05). However, cytotoxic and mutagenic actions of CP were considerably suppressed. The observed effects on cell division and chromosomes of A. cepa may be principally connected to the antioxidant properties of the extract. The obtained results suggest mitodepressive and antimutagenic potentials of water extract of the leaves of M. fragrans as desirable properties of a promising anticancer agent.



Key Words: Allium cepa, antioxidants, chromosomal aberration, cyclophosphamide, mitotic index
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