In this study, toxicological safety (mutagenicity) and therapeutic potential (antimutagenicity)
of water extract of Centella asiatica Linn., were evaluated using the Allium cepa assay. The
mitotic index (MI) at 6.25% concentration of the extract decreased significantly from 3.13% to
2.05% after 24 h and 48 h, respectively, however, the MI increased significantly by 60% and
400% at 12.5% and 50.0% concentrations, respectively. There was total arrest of cell division
at 100% concentration after 24 h and 48 h of onion’s roots exposure to the water extract.
The chromosomal aberrations (CA) induced by the extract were not significantly different
from the negative control (p ≥ 0.05) at the tested concentrations. The mutagenic activity of
cyclophosphamide was significantly suppressed above 50% at the tested concentrations. These
results suggest non-genotoxic effect, and antimutagenic potency of water extract of C. asiatica
in A. cepa cells, being desirable characteristics of anticancer therapeutics.