Gentoxic Evaluation of Batuan (Garcia binucao) Fruit Extract using Onion (Allium cepa) Root Tip Assay

Abstract

Garcinia binucao (batuan), usually used in culinary as a souring agent, contains phytochemical properties and other therapeutic effects that could treat various diseases. The researchers investigated the potential genotoxic effects of batuan fruit extract using an Allium cepa (onion) root tip assay. Batuan fruit extract was obtained through methanolic extraction. Different extract concentrations at 25%, 50%, and 75% were applied on the root tips of onion (A. cepa). Colchicine with a 200 μg/mL concentration and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The researchers obtained data in different time intervals of 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours. The result shows a significant decrease of p<0.05 in the mean mitotic index (MI) of the 12-hour treatment group. The highest percent concentration of batuan fruit extract (75%) has shown the most decrease in mean MI among the treatments with a significant (p<0.05) value of 24.50%. For the 25% concentration, the mean MI value is 47.57%, and the 50% concentration has the highest mean MI value of 62.57%. These values are higher compared to the mean MI of the negative control, which has a value of 10.24. Meanwhile, all specified concentrations using the positive control, colchicine, produced the lowest mitotic index of 0.00. Therefore, it can be concluded that G. binucao plant extract has the potential to be genotoxic to plant genomes at high concentrations and particular time exposure.