CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF CASHEW APPLE (ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALES L.) JUICE ON ROOT MERISTEMATIC CELLS OF ALLIUM SATIVUM

Abstract

 The cytotoxic effect of cashew apple juice (red and yellow varieties) on Allium sativum root tip cells was evaluated with a view to studying their mutagenic and anti-mitotic potentials. The extracted raw juice (100%) was diluted to concentrations of 25%, 50% and 75% with distilled water, while distilled water without the juice served as the control for the study. The root tips of Allium sativum grown in the treatments and control for 24 hours were harvested between 8:30am and 9:30am CAT for cytological studies. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the juice was also carried out. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, alkaloids and glycosides in juice from both varieties. The results showed chromosomal aberrations with different concentrations of the cashew apple juice. The six chromosomal aberrations associated with different concentrations of juice from the red apple variety were faulty polarity, C-mitosis, sticky chromosomes, spindle disturbance, star metaphase and binucleate cells while three aberrant conditions observed in juice obtained from yellow apple variety were binucleate cells, C-mitosis cells and sticky chromosomes. The results obtained in this study revealed that the yellow cashew juice showed lesser chromosomal abnormalities. Also the cashew apple juice has anti-mitotic properties despite the reported mutagenic potentials. Yellow cashew apple with lesser chromosomal aberrations would be better for consumption than the red cashew apple.