A comparison of SCE test in human lymphocytes and Vicia faba: a hopeful technique using plants to detect mutagens and carcinogens.

A comparison of the Vicia faba SCE with the human lymphocyte SCE test was made with regard to their capacity to detect mutagens. Twelve chemical agents that can induce sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in both Vicia faba root tip cells and human lymphocytes were used. The results indicate that the plant SCE technique is a sensitive test for screening various chemical agents including food preservatives, pesticides and essences which may have mutagenic activity. A new simplified procedure was introduced for differential staining of sister chromatids in Vicia faba.