EFFECT OF GARLIC AND GINGER AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON MITOTIC INDEX OF ONION ROOT TIPS GROWN IN PESTICIDE CONTAINING WATER

Since ancient times, herbal knowledge has been used in the field of health care by different cultures. Ginger and garlic are important herbs that have covered a wide role in various health ailments like kidney and heart diseases. Also, they are considered to be potential against suppressing toxicity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity suppressing capability of these two herbs against residual pesticides. Residual pesticides were extracted from apples by solvent extraction procedure. Onion tips were allowed to grow in water containing residual pesticides. Aqueous extracts of ginger and garlic were prepared for the study. The study was classified into groups: group1: control/normal (root tips grown in distilled water); group 2: root tips treated with residual pesticide; group 3: root tips treated with a combination of residual pesticide and garlic extract and group 4: root tips treated with a combination of residual pesticide and ginger extract. Mitotic index was documented using a paper microscope (Foldscope). The result was recorded for 24 h and 72 h. In 24 h, group 1 showed 63.66 ± 1.52%; group 2 (50.8 ± 1.28% ); group 3 (60.16 ± 2.28%) and group 4 (49.66 ± 2.08% ) whereas in 72 h changes were recorded for group 1 (60.29 ± 1.12%); group 2 (17 ± 1.73% ); group 3 (40.97 ± 1.66% ) and group 4 (37 ± 1.60% ). From the results, it can be concluded that both garlic and ginger extracts have toxicity suppressing power. Moreover, garlic extract showed better suppressing activity, which supports its use as an anti-cancer agent.