Mutagenic Potential of the Condiments, Ginger and Turmeric

Abstract

The effects of the two commonly used condiments, ginger and turmeric on cell divisions in root tip cells of onion have been studied. The predominant type of aberration in both cases was chromosome breakage. C-mitosis, somatic segregations, multipolar anaphases etc. were also observed. The present study has shown that extracts of fresh rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) are radiomimetic and may be mutagenic.