Insinuations of Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold Seed Aqueous Extract-mediated Genetoxicity in Lathyrus sativus root tip cells and nucleolus, Chana punctatus, and Gallus gallus RBC: A Comparative Biomarker-Based Toxicological Bioassay

Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold, a popular member of family Apocynaceae, (Yellow Oleander, suicide plant), contains pharmacologically active constituents include terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids and glycosides in seeds. This plant is being the preferred tool for suicides in villages of India. To identify the potency of cytotoxicity of the aqueous decoction, different eukaryotic cellular systems were chosen. To fulfil this purpose germinating root tips of Lathyrus sativus root tip cell nucleolus, Chana punctatus and Gallus gallus RBC were considered as biological models to evaluate the extent of cytotoxicity of the aqueous decoction of Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold dried Seed powder. The Cascabela thevetia seed aqueous extract (CTSAE) when incubated with washed 2% RBC (in vitro), produced hemolysis of chicken RBC (Gallus gallus) and found to produce significant changes in the nucleolar frequency and volume in pre-treated germinating Lathyrus sativus L. seeds with serially diluted concentrations (5mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg/ ml respectively). There was significant increase in electrolyte leakage and decrease in root oxidizability in the aforementioned doses of seed priming in germinating Lathyrus root tip cells. The said pre-treatments induced significant increase in nucleolar breakage and fragmentations followed by the formation of micronucleoli and karyolysis. There was high frequency of occurrence of giant cells and apoptotic cells. In Chana punctatus RBCs the aforementioned doses produced significant induction of micronuclei (in vivo). So it might be conclusively inferred that the seeds of Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold, is highly toxic not only for plant cells but can evoke elicitation of variable degrees of in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity in animal (Gallus gallus and Chana punctatus) RBCs in addition to plant genomes. Strict regulation and monitoring is highly needed to keep this ornamental plant from the reach and vicinity of common man and aquatic vis-a-vis domestic animals for better safety and prevention of genotoxicity.