Cell Cycle Delay and Colchicine Like Metaphase Inducing Effects of Scutellaria discolor Colebr. Herb Aqueous Extract in Allium cepa Root Apical Meristem Cells

Abstract

Scutellaria discolor Colebr. (Family Lamiaceae, common name: bicolor skullcap) is a traditionally used medicinal plant. The present study aimed to analyze cell cycle delay and colchicine like metaphase (c-metaphase) inducing effects of aqueous extract of S. discolor herb (AESD) in onion, Allium cepa, root apical meristem cells. Onion root growth retardation, mitotic index, dividing cell frequencies, and c-metaphase frequency were analyzed after AESD treatment. The AESD induced a concentration-dependent onion root growth retardation, increased metaphase and c-metaphase frequency, reduced subsequent transition from metaphase to anaphase, and that was comparable with the colchicine action. In summary, AESD may contain colchicine like secondary metabolites having cell cycle delay and c-metaphase inducing effects in onion root tip cells, indicating its perspective use in the field of medicine, karyotyping, and cytotoxicity studies.