Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potentials of Datura innoxia Leaves Aqueous Extract on Allium cepa Meristemic Cells

Medicinal plants are still vitally important in the preparation of pharmaceutical products. Plants have been used both for their prophylactic effects and for the treatment of illnesses and diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 80% of developing countries use traditional folk medicines, 85% of which are plant extracts. Datura plant was used medicinally over the world in historical times for treatment of colds, nervous conditions, and as ointment for cuts or wounds and to relieve pain during the setting of bones. The present study aimed to investigate the mutagenic potential of Datura innoxia water extract using Allium cepa root tip cells as biological systems they were used to find out the effect of Datura extract on chromosomal structure and behavior during cell division. Therefore, the mitotic index and chromosome aberration in treated cells were recorded. The root meristem cells were treated with different concentrations of D. innoxia at different times, cytological analysis revealed significant depression in cell division, this was seen noticeably in all used concentrations especially at high ones. The interaction of D. innoxia extract with the genetic material led to DNA damage and decreased cell number depending concentration and time.