Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of methanol extracts of vegetative parts of some Gypsophila L. species using Allium cepa assay

In this study, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Gypsophila perfoliata L. var. perfoliata, Gypsophila perfoliata L. var. araratica Kit Tan, Gypsophila pilosa Hudson and Gypsophila osmangaziensis Ataslar & Ocak plant extracts have been examined using Allium assay. Methanol extracts of plants have been prepared in 4 different concentrations (0.625 mg,/ml, 1.250 mg/ml, 2.500 mg/ml and 5.000 mg/ml). After the onion roots were treated in these concentrations of plant extracts for 24 hours and 48 hours, mitosis slides were prepared from these root tips. With the data obtained by examining the slides, mitotic index (%) and chromosome aberration (%) values have been calculated. Distilled water has been used as the control group. It was found that mitotic index and chromosome aberration values of all species showed significant differences compared to the control group in the extract concentration range of 1.250-5.000 mg/ml. It has been also determined that the most widely observed chromosome aberrations were disturbed metaphase, sticky metaphase, c-metaphase, disturbed anaphase and anaphase bridge.