Determination of mutagenic effects of the extracts from Limonium species by using different test systems

Interest to the altenative medicine and usage of plants have been increasing day by day in parallel way. Investigation of plants efficiency is important with respect to both economics of our country and evaluation of reliability of plants usage. For this purpose in this study, root, stem and leaf organs of some species belonging to Limonium genus, consumed in our country by humans and other living organisms, were used. Mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of distilled water, methanol and acetone:methanol (2:1) extracts obtained from the mentioned organs were determined with Allium, AMES and MTT tests. Limonium effusum that was used in the study, is an endemic species but Limonium globuliferum is not an endemic species. According to Allium root growth inhibition test and mitotic index determination studies commited with two species, distilled water extracts caused to rising in the amount of toxicity depended on increasing concentration. In chromosome aberration studies, anomalies especially arising from spindle fiber disruptions, were determined. In AMES test, Limonium effusum root, methanol and distilled water extracts showed weak mutagenic effect, while Limonium globuliferum leaf methanolic extracts at 10000 µg/plate concentration; 1 and 0.1 µg/plate root distilled water extracts; and all dosage of stem and leaf distilled water extracts showed mutagenic effects. Results of MTT test, was operated based on mitochondrial activity, indicated that large majority of extracts had cytotoxic effect. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of the extracts, on different organisms by different test systems using bacterial, plant and mammalian cells. It was found that some of the Limonium effusum and Limonium globuliferum extracts had positive effects on cells, while large majority of extracts were toxic.Keywords: Limonium effusum, Limonium globuliferum, Allium test, AMES test, MTT test