A comparative study of the lectins from the families Amaryllidaceae and Alliaceae reveals many common features: all bind D-mannose exclusively and have similar molecular structures and amino acid compositions. All these lectins contain subunits of M, 11500-14000 which are not linked by disulphide bonds and occur as dimers (in Allium sativum, A. vineale, A. ursinum, A. moly, Narcissus pseudonarc...

Introduction: Allium cepa is a biological material of great importance for mutagenicity tests, due to the simplicity of its use in testing, the fast growth of its roots, and the response of genetic material to the presence of substances with cytotoxic and genotoxic potential. Method: The Allium test model by using the onion seed (Alium cepa L.) without the use of pesticides or any other chemica...

The effect of chemical mutagens on the induction of mitotic chromosomal aberrations in diploid Allium cepa and tetraploid Allium vineale has been studied. In inducing chromosomal aberrations in case of both diploid and tetraploid Allium all the mutagens were found to be effective . Mitotic irregularities were higher in tetraploid species as compared with the diploid species. All types of chemic...

The influence of a permitted yellow food colour, Sunset yellow –FCF on root tips of Allium sativum was investigated with a view to ascertaining its mitodepressive effect. Root tips of Allium sativum were treated with five concentrations of Sunset yellow like 100 ppm,250 ppm,500 ppm,750 ppm and 1000 ppm and with distilled water as control. The time of action of the respective concentration of so...

The effect of aqueous extract of Allium sativum on phospatases activity in albino rats was investigated. Twelve rats were randomly grouped into four where rats in B, C and D groups were treated daily with oral administration of aqueous extract of Allium sativum at 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg body weight respectively for two weeks. The control group A received no treatment. The results showed...

Plants of the Allium genus, for example garlic and onion, are relatively odourless as long as they are intact. But if they are crushed or cut, a bunch of strong aromas are released. This is the result of a reaction between the enzyme alliinase and its substrates, alk(en)yl cysteine derivatives, probably as a defence against pests (Ellmore et al., 1994; Ankri et al., 1999). This occurs after cel...

Allium vegetables have been employed for a long time in traditional medical practice to treat a variety of diseases. Onion (Allium cepa L.), one of the representative Allium vegetables, has been used for centuries for its pungency, flavoring value, and medicinal properties. The bulb of onion is used medicinally and has been consumed as seasoning food for many centuries (Sengupta et al., 2004). ...

Antimicrobial activity of different concentrations (50, 100, 200, 300 and 500ml/l) of essential oil extracts of three type of onions (green, yellow and red) and garlic against two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmomella Enteritidis, and three fungi, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium cyclopium and Fusarium oxysporum, was investigated. The essential oil (EO) extracts of these Allium plants (garl...

Garlic, Alliumsativum, is broadly used around the world for its numerous culinary and medicinal uses. Wild garlic, Allium vineale, has been used as a substitute for garlic, both in food as well as in herbal medicine. The present study investigated the chemical compositions of A. sativum and A. vineale essential oils. The essential oils from the bulbs of A. sativum, cultivated in Spain, were obt...