The medicinal species Baccharis trimera and Baccharis articulata, which are native to the south of Brazil, are extensively used in popular medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the potential cytotoxic effect of these infusions on the cell cycle of Allium cepa. Branches of two populations of each species collected during the vegetative and reproductive (flowering) stages were used to prepare infusions at two concentrations: 15 mg mL-1 and 75 mg mL-1. Onion (Allium cepa) root-tip cells were used as an in vivo test system. Slides were prepared through smashing technique. Cells were analyzed throughout A. cepa cell cycle, totaling 4000 cells for each group of bulbs. The mitotic index (MI) was calculated, and the statistical analysis performed using the Chi-square test (c² = 0.05). Results showed that B. trimera infusions caused MI reduction in both populations, compared with control, but not between concentrations in both used stages. Similarly, B. articulata extracts led to MI reduction, compared with control, and one of the populations had MI difference between concentrations in both stages. Cells with chromosome aberrations were present in all studied populations. Results indicated that the extract of both species showed antiproliferative and mutagenic effects at the studied concentrations; however, no difference was found concerning plant development stage.
medicinal plants; mutagenesis; antiproliferative
