Vol. 3, Special Issue 3, Part I (2017)

Objectives: Pogostemon quadrifolius (Benth.) is a medicinal aromatic shrub in family Lamiaceae which is used as folk medicine in India and reported to possess anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant property. Present study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of the plant in a simple plant model system and chemical profiling of the crude extract by spectroscopic studies.

Methodology: Cytotoxicity of aqueous and other two solvent extracts; methanol and hexane was evaluated in vivo by Allium chromosome aberration assay. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated by calculating mitotic index (MI) and occurrence of chromosome aberration (CA) in root meristematic cells of Allium. Phytochemical analysis of two solvent extracts; methanol and hexane was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy and FT-IR.

Results: Plant extracts showed significant toxicity in meristamatic cells of Allium in the higher concentration (100µg/ml). All the extracts had a significant effect on MI and induced CA thus revealed significant effect on the genetic material by inducing a spectrum of clastogenic as well as non-clastogenic CA. Among the tested extracts, hexane extract showed higher toxicity in terms of induction of CA and decreasing MI. Phytochemical screening of both solvent extracts showed a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds like phenolics, alkenes, alcohols, aromatic compounds etc. Conclusion: Cytotoxicity of extract apprises the necessity of further studies in other in vivo systems. Spectroscopic analyses indicated the presence of bioactive compounds. Further isolation and characterization of the extract may lead to some pharmacologically important compounds that might pave a new avenue to drug research.