The present investigation deals with wet chemical preparation and characterisation of copper (Cu) and cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles (NPs) (using UVÀvisible spectra, Fourier transform infra-red scattering, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) and their effectivity on mitotic and meiotic cells of Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) in comparison to ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) and gamma irradiations. The objective of the study is to foresee whether Cu-and CdS-NPs can induce similar type of chromosomal aberrations as that of EMS and gamma irradiations, or not. Dry seeds of N. sativa (2n D 12) are exposed to Cu-and CdS-NPs (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mg/ml; 3 and 6 h), EMS (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%; 3 and 6 h) and doses of gamma irradiations (25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 Gy). Cu-NPs (range: 25.7 to 120.4 nm; 33.2 nm § 9.6) and CdS-NPs (range: 29.4 to 115.7 nm; 37.8 nm § 10.7) are both cubical to spherical in shape. NPs are found to induce similar responses as that of the studied conventional mutagens, in relation to physiological and chromosomal (mitotic and meiotic) attributes. Uptake of Cu-and CdS-NPs in seedlings is also studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results suggest that Cu-and CdS-NPs can act as mutagenic agent, a pioneer report of its kind.