Effect of the Aqueous Extract of White Rain Lily Zephyranthes candida on Cell Division in Allium cepa Roots and Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte

Abstract

The study was carried out to test the effect of the aqueous extract of the bulb of white rainlily Zephyranthes candida on cell division in Allium cepa roots and human peripheral blood lymphocytes . The roots of A. cepa were treated with three concentrations of the extract ( 10 , 30 ,50 % ) for 2,4 and 6 hours. The Mitotic Index was decreased as the concentration increased , it was reduced to 66.85 and 60.35% of the control at the last concentration for 4 and 6 hours, there was no significant difference between the treatments for 2 and 4 hours . The Metaphase was arrested by all the treatments; it was almost 100 % in the concentrations 30 and 50 % for 4 and 6 hours. The human peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated by PHA, two volumes ( 0.1 and 0.2 ml ) of the 5 and 10 % extract were added to the culture.The extract was capable to arrest the human peripheral blood lymphocytes at Metaphase in percentages exceeded that of the colcemide. Consequently ,
Zephyranthes candida was considered as a promising source for antimitotic agents and it will be subjected for further investigations.