Mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of Eugenia uniflora L. by the Allium cepa L. test

Abstract

Eugenia uniflora (Surinam cherry tree) is an important species in traditional medicine and is used to decrease blood pressure and prevent heartburn, bronchitis, colic and stomachaches. The tealeaves have antirheumatic, anti-dysenteric, and febrifuge properties and are used to treat diabetes. This study aimed to assess the antiproliferative, mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of the leaves and fruits of E. uniflora through the Allium cepa test. The infusions were prepared using dried leaves (6.l(-1) and 24 gl(-1)) and the oil extraction was undertaken using hydrolyzation (0.25%, in ethanol). For juice preparation, fruit pulp with and without seeds was used. Allium cepa root tips were used for slide preparation following the squashing technique. Analysis of 500 cells for each bulb was undertaken, 250 of each root, summing 2500 cells per treatment, a total of 17,500 and 10,000 cells in the first and second experiments, respectively. The mitotic index was calculated and statistical analyses were performed. We found that the aqueous extract and oil of E. uniflora has mutagenic activity at low concentrations and the extract at a higher than average concentration can be considered antimutagenic. Furthermore, both juice extracts with and without seeds have anti-proliferative capacity.