Turmeric has long been used as a spice and food colouring agent in Asia. In the present investigation, the antimutagenic potential of
curcumin was evaluated in Allium cepa root meristem cells. So far there is no report on the
biological properties of
curcumin in plant test systems. The root tip cells were treated with
sodium azide at 200 and 300 microg/ml for 3 h and
curcumin was given at 5, 10 and 20 microg/ml for 16 h, prior to
sodium azide treatment. The
tips were squashed after
colchicine treatment and the cells were analyzed for
chromosome aberration and mitotic index.
Curcumin induces
chromosomal aberration in Allium cepa root tip cells in an insignificant manner, when compared with untreated control.
Sodium azide alone induces
chromosomal aberrations significantly with increasing concentrations. The total number of aberrations was significantly reduced in root tip cells pretreated with
curcumin. The study reveals that
curcumin has antimutagenic potential against
sodium azide induced
chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa root meristem cells. In addition, it showed mild cytotoxicity by reducing the percentage of mitotic index in all
curcumin treated groups, but the mechanism of action remains unknown. The antimutagenic potential of
curcumin is effective at 5 microg/ml in Allium cepa root meristem cells.