Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Genotoxic potential of aqueous extracts of Leucas aspera (Willd.) link: insights from Allium cepa and Vicia faba assays
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Karmakar Kanika, Chakraborty Manisankar, Adhikari Supriya, Basu Surochita
Research Articles | Published: 26 May, 2026
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Keywords: n Leucas asperan , n Allium cepa test, n Vicia faba assay, Chromosomal aberrations, Micronuclei, Genotoxicity
Abstract
Leucas aspera is renowned for its versatile therapeutic efficacy as traditional medicine. Aqueous extracts of the plant are used in diverse herbal formulations to treat a spectrum of ailments. The prophylactic components-phenols, terpenes, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids and glycosides; lend it antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, plant extract-based medicines can often be potentially phytotoxic, this makes genotoxicity assessment of Leucas aqueous extracts essential. Two widely recommended bioassays-the Allium cepa test and the Vicia faba assay were employed to investigate genotoxicity. The criteria for evaluating genotoxicity include alterations in root growth (RG) morphology, alterations in Mitotic Index (MI), abundance of chromosomal aberrations (CA), nuclear aberrations (NA), micronuclei (MN), in extract treated cells. Changes in RG, MI, CA, MN in Allium and Vicia treated with aqueous leaf and flower extract of Leucas were analyzed from a comparative viewpoint, supported by statistical analyses. Significant decrease in RG along with diminution in MI, abundance of CA, NA and MN in treated and F1 cells of both Allium and Vicia; demonstrate genotoxicity of the plant extract. Allium cepa test appeared more sensitive with higher diminution in RG, MI, and higher abundance of aberrations and F1MN. Allium cepa test proved statistically more significant than Vicia faba assay. Allium cepa test proved more sensitive and statistically significant than Vicia faba assay for the genotoxicity end points. The aqueous extract of Leucas aspera is potentially genotoxic, emphasizing the need for safety and toxicity assessment before cautious application in therapeutic contexts.
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Author Information
Department of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Agartala, India