Botany Research International 8 (1): 29-35, 2015 ISSN 2221-3635 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.bri.2015.8.1.516 Corresponding Author: Sadaf Tabasum Qureshi, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Pakistan. E-mail: qureshi_plantsciences@hotmail.com. 29 Cytotoxic and Genotoxic and Oxidative Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Some Frequently Used Medicinal Plants in Pakistan Sadaf Tabasum Qureshi, Parveen Chandio, Afsheen Noman, Asma Parveen and Yasmeen Soomro Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Pakistan Abstract: The unlimited use of Medicinal plants due to lack of information about their possible toxicities is increasing day by day in Pakistan. Therefor aqueous extracts of Thyme seed, Neem leaf, Neem seed and Eucalyptus leaf were evaluated for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity (DNA damage) and oxidative stress using chromosomal aberration assay in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) root tip cells. Chickpea seeds were incubated in 10% solutions of aqueous extracts for 0.5 hour and 1 hour. All the extracts inhibit germination of chickpea seed. In 0.5 hour treatment maximum percent decrease was observed in eucalyptus (11%) and in 1 hour treatment in thyme seed (37%). In 0.5 hour treatment minimum M.I. was observed in Thyme seed (93%) and in 1 hour treatment Neem seed (32%) exhibited minimum M.I. In 0.5 hour treatment maximum abnormality index (A.I) was observed in Neem seed (26%) and in 1 hour treatment Thyme seed (97%) showed maximum abnormality index. Thyme seed and Neem seed extracts were more genotoxic than Neem leaf and Eucalyptus leaf extracts. Among all the applied extracts most frequent chromosomal aberration was fragmentation. Oxidative damage was also induced by all the extracts. It is concluded that unlimited use of these medicinal plants should be avoided. Their safe dose must be administered. Key words: Medicinal plants Cytotoxicity Genotoxicity Oxidative damage INTRODUCTION is the safety due to lack of information about adverse Though medicinal plants have been used since affordability, historical and cultural background besides antiquity for the prevention and treatment of various safety promotes their use in the developing countries. ailments. At the turn of the century, approximately 170 A noteworthy population of Pakistan is using herbal drugs were officially recognized in the U.S.A. and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies the director of W.H.O. Traditional medicine reported in from different practitioners, irrespective of any education 1993 that 80% of the world population relies chiefly on and awareness about their disease and long-term traditional medicine, mainly plant based, especially for drawbacks that ends up in serious consequences and their primary health care needs. In some Asian and even loss of lives [3]. In Pakistan the use of CAM African countries, up to 80% of the population relies on therapies are more common in patients with knee traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Osteoarthritis [4]. Out of many Medicinal plant families, When adopted outside of its traditional culture [1]. 15 are associated with cytotoxic and genotoxic effects Pakistan scenario is that there are around 46,000 [5-11]. These are some examples of problems apparently registered "hakims". Around 200 medicinal plants are associated with the uncontrolled use of "natural" found to be extensively used by the traditional healers products and traditional herbal medicines [2]. evidenced by their annual consumption by ten leading Few of most commonly used medicinal plants in herbal drug manufacturers in Pakistan. The worldwide Pakistan are Thyme seed (seed) Neem (leaf and seed) and alternative herbal medicine use has grown tremendously Eucalyptus (leaves). Neems (Azadirachta indica) belong in the last three decades [2]. Amongst several factors to family Meliaceae. Although aqueous extracts of neem contributing towards the increasing use of herbal drugs are anti-fungal, anti-bacteria and anti-viral [12, 13, 14] and reactions and side effects. Whereas their accessibility,