Cytological effects of water extracts of medicinal plants. II. Influence of Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga extracts on meiosis of Vicia faba.

Abstract

The present studies deal with the influence of crude water extract of two medi cinal plants, Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga on the course of meiosis of Vicia faba.Although the two plants belong to family Umbelliferae beside their great morphological resemblance, yet they have two different effects, the water extract of Ammi majus is used for treatments of leukodermia and skin diseases (El-antaki 1923). While Ammi visnaga extract is used for relaxing smooth muscles and hence causing passage of kidney calculi (Ibrahim Pasha 1929 and El-Keiy 1936).The active ingredients in Ammi visnaga is khellin, while in Ammi majus is xanthotoxin (Balbaa et al. 1976). Materials and methods Preparation of the extractA weighed quantity (0.5, 1 and 10gm) of dry Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga seeds was boiled in 100 ml of distilled water for 10, 20 and 30 minutes. The evapo rated water was replaced by distilled water to the original volume (100ml). Then the extract was filtered immediately while hot through a piece of cotton.Flower buds of Vicia faba plants (V. Rebaya 40) were treated for three succes sive days using a piece of cotton saturated with the plant extract, tap water was used for control for each treatment 30 plants were used.The treated flower buds were collected 72 hours from the last treatment, fixed in acetic-alcohol (1:3) for 24 hours then stored in 70% alcohol under refrigeration. Permanent slides stained with acetocarmine were examined for meiotic divisions and abnormalities, pollen viability and pollen length.