Evaluation of cytogenotoxic and antimutagenic potency of water extract of Centella asiatica Linn. using the Allium cepa assay

In this study, toxicological safety (mutagenicity) and therapeutic potential (antimutagenicity) of water extract of Centella asiatica Linn., were evaluated using the Allium cepa assay. The mitotic index (MI) at 6.25% concentration of the extract decreased significantly from 3.13% to 2.05% after 24 h and 48 h, respectively, however, the MI increased significantly by 60% and 400% at 12.5% and 50.0% concentrations, respectively. There was total arrest of cell division at 100% concentration after 24 h and 48 h of onion’s roots exposure to the water extract. The chromosomal aberrations (CA) induced by the extract were not significantly different from the negative control (p ≥ 0.05) at the tested concentrations. The mutagenic activity of cyclophosphamide was significantly suppressed above 50% at the tested concentrations. These results suggest non-genotoxic effect, and antimutagenic potency of water extract of C. asiatica in A. cepa cells, being desirable characteristics of anticancer therapeutics.