title: Metaphase arrest and delay in cell cycle kinetics of root apical meristems and mouse bone marrow cells treated with leaf aqueous extract of Clerodendrum viscosum Vent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study cell cycle delay and metaphase arresting activity of leaf aqueous extract of Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. (LAECV) in root apical meristems and mouse bone marrow cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell cycle delay and metaphase arresting activities of LAECV were analysed, in root apical meristems of onion and wheat, and in mouse bone marrow cells, by scoring mitotic index, metaphase frequency and transition of cells from metaphase to anaphase. Colchicine was used as the standard metaphase arresting drug. Phytochemicals present in LAECV were detected and their phytotoxic activity was evaluated by analysing green-gram (Vigna radiata) seedling's root growth retardation and branch root swelling phenomenon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LAECV treatment resulted in dose-dependent root growth retardation of green-gram seedling root length (P < 0.01) and half maximal growth inhibitory concentration (IC(50) ) of LAECV was 0.87 mg/ml at 144 h. In onion and wheat root meristem cells the mitotic index decreased, metaphase frequency increased and transition from metaphase to anaphase reduced. Experimentation with mouse bone marrow cells indicated that LAECV induced metaphase arrest (164.3% increase in arrested metaphases per 300 mg/kg body weight, over 2.5 h). Phytochemicals like carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, triterpenoids, tannins and trace amounts of alkaloids were detected in LAECV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be said that LAECV contains mitostatic and metaphase arresting components that are able to induce significant metaphase arrest in root apical meristems and also in mouse bone marrow cells.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. ray.sanjibray@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D032409:Clerodendrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018519:Meristem / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D019697:Onions / Q000254:growth & development*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water