A Study on the Cytological Effects of Myrobalan (Fruit of \u3cem\u3eTerminalia chebula\u3c/em\u3e) in \u3cem\u3eAllium\u3c/em\u3e Tests

The present study was aimed to find the cytogenetic effects of myrobalan using Allium cepa as a model system. The onion bulbs were grown in the suspension of myrobalan in tap water at various concentrations (0.01, 0.10, 1.0, 10.0 and 30 mg/ml) for 96 hours. The mean root length, the colour of growing roots as well as the mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations were observed in the presence of myrolaban, in order to assess the cytological effects of myrobalan. The colour of growing roots was not affected at 0.01 and 0.1 mg/ml myrobalan concentrations, while it appeared pale at 1 mg and 10 mg/ml and black at 30 mg/ml concentrations. The root length was not affected at low concentrations of myrobalan, however, concentrations 1 mg/ml and above inhibited root length. The mitotic index, i.e., percentage of dividing root tip cells did not change at 0.01 and 0.10 mg/ml myrobalan concentration, however, it decreased significantly at 1 mg/ml and no mitosis was observed at 10 mg/ml and above, as the cells were seen in interphase with nucleoli. Abnormal mitosis and chromosomal aberrations like sticky chromosomes, C–mitosis, laggards, multipolar anaphases, chromosome bridge, micronucleated cells and polykaryocytes were not seen in dividing and non-dividing cells among roots grown at various concentrations of myrobalan. The present finding reveals that myrobalan does not exert any cytotoxic effects in Allium model