Evaluation of antimitotic and genotoxic effects of Verbascum sinuatum L. leaf extracts using the Allium cepa assay: phytochemical profiling and biological insights

Yasmina Ouzid; Souad Lahcene; Sarah Saci; Lamia Trabelsi; Karim Houali

doi:10.55779/nsb18212936

Authors

Yasmina Ouzid 1) M'hamed Bougara University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Boumerdes, 35000; 2) Mouloud Mammeri University, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Agronomic Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Analytic Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LABAB), Tizi-Ouzou, 15000 (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6468-868X
Souad Lahcene Mouloud Mammeri University, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Agronomic Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Analytic Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LABAB), Tizi-Ouzou, 15000 (DZ) https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9343-0880
Sarah Saci Mouloud Mammeri University, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Agronomic Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Analytic Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LABAB), Tizi-Ouzou, 15000 (DZ) https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2741-4728
Lamia Trabelsi University of Carthage, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology (INSTM), Marine Biodiversity Laboratory, Tunis 1054 (TN) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5168-691X
Karim Houali Mouloud Mammeri University, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Agronomic Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Laboratory of Analytic Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LABAB), Tizi-Ouzou, 15000 (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7317-8657

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55779/nsb18212936

Keywords:

Allium cepa, antimitotic activity, chromosomal aberrations, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity

Abstract

Medicinal plants are increasingly explored as sources of anticancer compounds, and Verbascum sinuatum L. has gained attention for its rich phytochemical profile. This study evaluated the antimitotic, genotoxic, and cytotoxic effects of its leaf extract and flavonoid aqueous and butanolic fractions. HPLC-UV analysis identified 16 phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids such as catechin, luteolin, and quercetin. Both fractions showed high flavonoid content (97.70 ± 0.02 μg QE/mL and 95.43 ± 0.01 μg QE/mL). Using the Allium cepa assay, all samples reduced the mitotic index, with a stronger effect at the higher concentration of the aqueous extract (42.20 ± 2.44% and 31.00 ± 2.50% at 4 and 10 mg/mL, respectively), and the butanolic fraction reducing it to 47.20 ± 1.03%, comparable to quercetin (44.40 ± 0.72%), while the aqueous flavonoid fraction showed a milder effect (70.00 ± 0.75%). All treatments induced chromosomal abnormalities, highest in the aqueous extract and butanolic fraction (24.52 ± 3.31%, 27.09 ± 3.63%, 26.51 ± 8.06%), whereas the aqueous flavonoid fraction showed lower genotoxicity (12.04 ± 2.83%). Cytotoxicity was more pronounced at the higher concentration of the aqueous extract (45.76 ± 2.64% and 33.61 ± 2.70%), moderate for the butanolic fraction (51.19 ± 1.29%), and lowest for the aqueous flavonoid fraction (75.92 ± 1.10%), indicating lower nonspecific toxicity in this plant model.

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