Abstract:
The popularity of watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae) has increased in recent years in Cameroon due to the important nutrients it contains and health benefits it presents. Inspired by the ethno botanical and ethno medicinal uses of watermelon, this study was designed to evaluate its cytogenotoxic properties using the spermatogonial germ-line cells of the grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus L. (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae). Fifth instar Z. variegatus individuals were treated to different concentrations of (0μg/l, 5μg/l, 10μg/l, 20μg/l, 30μg/l and 50μg/l) of aqueous extract of watermelon, C. lanatus leaves by injection into the abdomen respectively. Distilled water (0 μg/ml) was used as the control. Results revealed that C. lanatus leaf extracts exhibited cytogenotoxic effects and these were concentration dependent. Among the extracts, the 50 μg/ml recorded the highest percent aberrant cells while the 5 μg/ml showed the lowest. As regards genotoxicity, all the extract–treated cells showed different chromosomal aberrations that included bridges, laggards, vagrant chromosomes and sticky chromosomes. The 50 μg/ml extract significantly produced the highest incidences (25.83%) while the 5 μg/ml extract had the lowest incidence (1.57%) of chromosomal aberrations. The control induced only one laggard (0.95%). In general the different concentrations induced low amounts of cytogenotoxic aberrations. These results led us to conclude that C. lanatus exhibits some cytogenotoxic properties at high concentrations thus emphasizing that the fruit should be consumed by humans with caution.
