Guava (Psidium guajava) Leaves Extract as Mitotic Inhibitor in Red Onion (Allium cepa) Roots
Keywords:
guava leaves, mitotic inhibitor, red onion rootsAbstract
INTRODUCTION
This study is an evaluation of the effect of guava leaves extract as mitotic inhibitor in red onion root tips. This was conducted to find out if guava leaves extract has the potential as a good alternative for antimitotic substances.
METHODS
The researchers gathered no less than 50 pieces of fully-grown guava leaves, 15 regular onion bulbs, styrofoam containers, tap water, and mesh wire. The onion bulbs were arranged by 3 pieces per container and left partially soaked in 50mL water and placed where there was sufficient sunlight for the onions to grow for 3-5 days. After that, the bulbs were removed from water. The guava leaves were extracted and treated on to the onion bulbs for another 24 hours. After the treatment is the fixation wherein the fixative will be replaced with 70% ethanol, then the roots were ready for the preparation of glass slides. The researches cleanly observed the slides through the microscope. The mitotic index was computed through the number of observed cells and dividing cells.
RESULTS
In the results for the mitotic index, Setup E or the control group had the highest mitotic index recorded (7.85%) since it was untreated with guava leaves extract unlike the other experimental setups A, B, C and D that had a lower mitotic index as the concentration of guava leaves increased. The experimental group had a range of mitotic index from 0.56% to 3.38%.
DISCUSSIONS
The result of observation shows that control setup E had a higher mitotic index compared to the experimental setups A, B, C and D. It has covered 0.19% mitotic index and was obviously higher than the other setups having only 0.01% -0.09%. It is also notable that different concentrations affect the mitotic index of the onion roots from pure extract which had the lowest, to 25% extract which had the highest within experimental groups. Therefore, it can be generalized that the guava leaves extract really inhibits mitotic activities within the onion roots.
