Evaluation of Antimitotic and Genotoxic Effects of the Triterpenoid Enriched Extract from Trichosanthes dioica Root

Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), called Potol in Bengali, Palval in Hindi and pointed gourd in English is a dioecious climber grown in Indian subcontinent and all parts of it have been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimitotic and genotoxic effect of cucurbitacin enriched extract of T. dioica root using Allium cepa root meristems by keeping them in different concentrations of the test extract under specific experimental conditions, followed by determination of root growth inhibition (root length and number) and mitotic index. The extract significantly demonstrated concentration dependent inhibition of root length and number (EC value: 2.3 mg/ml) and reduction in mitotic 50 index, indicating antimitotic activity demonstrating genotoxicity. The present study therefore, establishes remarkable in vitro antimitotic and genotoxic properties of T. dioica root against the test system and thereby suggesting the feasibility of its possible promise as natural antitumor agent.