MUTAGENIC EFFECT OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF MORINDA LUCIDA (BENTH) ON ALLIUM CEPA (L) CHROMOSOMES

Mitotic studies were carried out on onion roots treated with different concentrations of raw leaf extract of Morinda lucida, onion roots initiated on water served as control. Chromosome aberrations such as polyploidization, chromosome breakage, laggards and non-congression of chromosomes at telophase were observed in the dividing cells of onion roots treated with 0.5kg/L concentration of the leaf extract. There was no chromosome aberration observed in the roots treated with 0.1kg/L, 0.2kg/L and 0.4kg/L concentrations of the leaf extract and the control. Results obtained imply that high concentration of the leaf extract of M. lucida is capable of inducing chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa.  Low concentrations (£ 0.2kg/L) of the leaf extract are therefore suggested for treatment of ailments in traditional medicare.