Abstract:

Objective: To study the optimal concentration of cyclophosphamide and evaluation standard of micronucleus tests in Vicia faba root tips. Methods: Micronucleus tests were conducted in Vicia faba root tips treated with different concentrations of cyclophosphamide. Results: Micronucleus rate in Vicia faba root tips exhibited a good reproducibility and dose-effect relationship at the concentration of cyclophosphamide below 40.0 mg/L. Mutagenesis of tested samples was observed when micronucleus index was over 1.5. Conclusion: Concentrations of cyclophosphamide between 0.8 mg/L and10.0 mg/L could be used as the positive control and micronucleus index could be used to assay mutagenicity due to its accuracy, rapidness and practical value.

Key words: Vicia faba root tips, cyclophosphamide, micronucleus rate, micronucleus index