Etude de l’activité antimitotique de l’extrait des feuilles de Thym (Thymus vulgaris L.) sur le méristème radiculaire de l’oignon (Allium cepa L.)

Abstract

In the framework of a valorization of the natural resources, it seemed interesting to us to study the antimitotic action of thyme extract (leaves), growing in the spontaneous state in the north-west of Algeria. This work involves extracting their metabolites in order to test the antimitotic activity of the latter. An extraction of the active metabolites by hydroalcoholic method conducted using methanol. In particular, the antimitotic effect of leaf extracts was evaluated in vitro on meristematic cells of Allium cepa. The calculation of mitotic indices and phase indices showed efficacy comparable to that of colchicine used as a positive control. A mitodepressive effect of Thymus vulgaris extract was found on cell division at 0.12% concentration. On the other hand, colchicine exhibited significant chromosomal aberrations due to inhibitory effects on meristematic onion cells. In order to compare these clues with a negative control untreated cells revealed a significant difference. We concluded from these results that the extract of the Thymus vulgaris leaves studied represents a promising source in the production of natural substances of antimitotic therapeutic interest.