Evaluation of genotoxicity potential of plants traditionally used for mosquito control in Kenya’s South coast
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Date
2016Author
Musau, J K
Mbaria, J M
Nguta, J M
Mbaabu, M
Kiama, S G
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Plants are widely used for control of mosquitoes in Kenya but there is little
documentation on effects of their long term use. Six plants used
traditionally for mosquito control in Kenya’s south coast were evaluated for
their genotoxicity potential using the Allium cepa test. The plants were
Tagetus minuta L., Adansonia digitata Linn., Ocimum suave, Plectranthus
barbatus A., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Lantana camara L. The plant
extracts were assessed for mitotic index, early anaphases, chromosomal
bridges/fragments, stickiness and c-mitosis. Leaf extracts of Azadirachta
indica induced mitotic inhibition, produced binucleate and ghost cells in the
allium cepa root meristems. Among the normal cells in the extracts of
P.berbatus, there were cells which had a high cytoplasm: nucleus ratio
including a bulging cytoplasm. The plants in this study may be used for
topical application but Azadirachta indica should not be used systemically
and continuously for long periods.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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