Investigation of anticytotoxic and antimutagenic effects of aqueous extracts of alyssum virgatum nyar. By both allium and ames tests

In this study, anticytotoxic effects of distilled water extract of Alyssum virgatum Nyar. (Brassicaceae family) aerial parts (Av-ext) was determined on Allium cepa root meristematic cells and antimutagenic effects on TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium strains with and without metabolic activation was investigated by Salmonella/microsome test system. Effects of different concentrations and treatment periods of Av-ext on root growth, mitotic index and anaphase-telophase chromosomal aberrations, against MMS were determined. EC50 value was found about 1.56 g/L in Allium root growth inhibition test. In anticytotoxicity test, distilled water (negative control), MMS (positive control) and different concentration of Av-ext (0.5×EC50, EC50 ve 2×EC50) including 10 ppm MMS were used for 24, 48 and 72 hours treatment period. It was observed that mitotic index was increased significantly parallel with to concentration rising in Av-ext groups including 10 ppm MMS. In chromosome aberration study, percentages of anomallies were decreased according to positive control group. Laggard chromosome aberrations caused by mitotic spindle disruptions were determined more than the other anomalies. The results were then evaluated by Duncan test in SPSS software for windows. It was determined that 5000 µg/plate concentration of Av-ext, showed medium antimutagenic activity on Salmonella tyhimurium TA98 strain with and without S9 by the inhibition rates % 21.92 and % 20.02, respectively. Antimutagenic activity was not found by Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain with and without S9. The results were evaluated by Dunnett-t test (2-sided) on SPSS program and all of the used concentrations, except 312.5 µg/plate concentration, were found to be statistically significant.