Antiproliferative effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) on the meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. roots

Abstract

This study evaluates the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the cork cambium of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (jatobá-do-cerrado) on the meristematic cells of Allium cepa roots, at 3 concentrations, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/mL, and 2 exposure times, 24 h and 48 h. The slides were made through the crushing technique. Cells were analyzed throughout the cell cycle, totaling 5,000 for each control and concentration group. We found that the 3 concentrations significantly decreased the cell division rate at the exposure time of 48 h when compared to their respective controls. The mitotic index of the exposure time of 48 h was statistically different when compared to the cell division rate of the exposure time of 24 h for all concentrations. The number of cell abnormalities observed was not statistically significant by means of the chi-square test used. Therefore, under the conditions analyzed, the 3 concentrations tested for the cork cambium of jatobá-do-cerrado significantly decreased, in statistical terms, the cell division rate in the meristematic cells of A. cepa roots.