Cytotoxic potential of Cissus quandrangularis on Allium cepa root meristem

Apoptosis is a developmental and regulated process which may occur as a result of the cytogenetic changes in the cell. Cissus quandrangularis is a xerophytic plant that belongs to the family Vitaceae, commonly distributed throughout the hotter parts of India and Sri Lanka. An attempt had been made to explore the apoptosis-mediated cytotoxic potential of C. quadrangularis on Allium cepa. Cytogenetic activities of the plant were revealed using DAPI staining and in situ visualization of cell death was carried out with the help of Evans blue staining. The presence of clastogenic (nuclear lesions, chromosome bridges, chromosome breakage and pulverization of chromosomes) and non-clastogenic abberations (ball metaphase, stellate metaphase, chromosome clumping and early movement of chromosomes) observed under fluorescent microscope shows the cytotoxic effect of the plant extract. The quantification of cell death was measured by reading absorbance at 600 nm using the spectrophotometer. The cytotoxic effects on Allium root tips shows the apoptotic potential of the plant extract and the present study enlightens the anticancer potential of the plant