In vivo studies of a crude extract of Phyllanthus amarus L. in modifying the genotoxicity induced in Vicia faba L. by tannery effluents.

The genotoxic effects of two types of tannery effluent (Raw-to-Wetblue and Wetblue-to-Finish) and the antigenotoxic property of a crude extract of Phyllanthus amarus L. were evaluated using the root meristem of Vicia faba L. as the in vivo test system. The root tip cells were exposed to the tannery effluents at different concentrations for varying durations. Squash preparations were made following Haematoxylin staining procedures. Cytological investigations revealed a duration- and concentration-dependent decrease in mitotic frequency and an increase in chromosomal irregularities. The root meristems pre-treated with effluents for 8 h (Raw-to-Wetblue) and 24 h (Wetblue-to-Finish) which caused the maximum incidence of mitotic anomalies, were then exposed to the crude extract of Phyllanthus amarus (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%) to study its efficacy modifying genetic damage. It was observed that the root meristems post-treated with Phyllanthus showed a significant reduction in the frequency of chromosomal alterations. However, there was no significant variation in the mitotic frequency. The study suggests that Phyllanthin, a principle of Phyllanthus amarus, is antigenotoxic.