Studies on the Cytotoxic Effects of Extract of Castor Seed (Ricinus communis L.)

抄録

Cytotoxic effects of castor (Ricinus communis L.) seed extract on Allium sativum root tip cells were investigated. The results obtained showed that the seed extract of R. communis L. induced various types of cyto/chromotoxic effects which included fragments, ring chromosomes, C-mitosis, end to end attachment of the chromosomes at metaphase, chromatin bridges, laggards, unequal distribution of chromosomes and multipolar cells. Nuclear cleavage and disintegration, inhibition of cytokinesis, doubling of chromosome numbers, binucleate cells and binary fission of the nucleus were also observed. The most significant observations were the denaturation of chromatin fibre and somatic reduction that were encountered following treatment with 50 and 100% concentrations of the seed extract. The investigation also revealed that the rate of cell division was affected by castor seed extract. The rate of cell division (measured in terms of active mitotic index) decreased with the increase in concentration of the castor seed extract. It is therefore concluded that the castor seed extract not only upset the normal rate of cell division but also induced various structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations that may lead to mutation in the affected organism.