Mitotic effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus in Allium cepa root tips.

Aqueous extracts of the lemon grass, Cymbopogon citratus, were used to clear the malaria parasite in infected mice, although they died some days later. Allium cepa roots grown in aqueous extracts from 3, 6, 12 and 20 g of chopped leaves for 1, 3, and 6 h, showed some mitotic abnormalities including c-mitotic and mitodepressive effects. The abnormalities were not peculiar to any concentration or duration of extract treatment. The highest frequency of affected cells was 0.75% in the treatment with the 20 g concentration, but the 3 h treatment group had the greatest variety of effects. The mitodepressive effect of the extract increased significantly with concentration and time, and persisted even after 24 h in tap water. The chromosomal effects of the extract occur at a very low frequency but the mitodepressive effects may have implications for man.