GC-MS Analysis, Genotoxic and In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Fruit Extract and Fractions of Solanum anomalum Thonn. Ex Schumach (Solanaceae)

Solanum anomalum Thonn. Ex Schumach, Solanaceae fruits are used in Ibibio traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments including diabetes mellitus and malaria. The ethanol fruit extract and fractions of S. anomalum were investigated for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa and in vitro antioxidant activity using various models; 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, Ferric Reducing Power assay (FRAP), Nitric oxide (NO) scavenging assay, total flavonoid and phenol content using standard methods. Onion bulbs were exposed to 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL concentrations of the leaf extract for macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Tap water was used as a negative control and Methotrexate (0.1 mg/mL as a positive control. Also, the GC-MS analysis of the fractions were carried out. There was statistically significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of root growth depending on concentration by the extract when compared with the negative control group. All the tested concentrations of the extract were observed to have cytotoxic effects on cell division in Allium cepa. The extract- induced chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MNC) formations in A. cepa root tip cells were significant (p<0.05) when compared with control group. The extract treatment further induced cell death, ghost cells, cells membrane damage, and binucleated cells.The fruit extract and fractions exhibited significant antioxidant activity with the hexane and dichloromethane fractions demonstrating higher antioxidant potentials. The dichloromethane fraction was found to contain the highest level of total flavonoid and phenol followed by the crude extract. The fruit fractions (hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate) were found to contain some pharmacologically active compounds These results suggest that the fruit extract and fractions of Solanum anomalum possess genotoxic, cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials which are due to the activities of the phytochemical constituents.