Assessment of Cytotoxicity Induced by Hazardous Chemotherapeutic Drugs Cyclophosphamide and 5-Fluorouracil in Allium cepa Assay for Ecological Safety

Allium cepa (2n=16) assay is conducted to ascertain cytotoxicity of two most used hazardous chemotherapeutic drugs namely, cyclophosphamide (CP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (doses at much lower than pharmaceutical concentrations—0.025, 0.050, 0.100, 0.250 and 0.500 g L−1 for 24 h) to ascertain possible “Cytothreat” of the drugs to the ecosystem on disposal, and in non-targeted cells of the host system. Mitotic aberrations encountered in both dividing (stickiness of chromosome, chromosomal disintegration(s), ring(s), laggards, bridges and tri- and multipolarity) and resting (cells with micronucleus, binucleate and giant cells, cells with cellular and nuclear deformities and anucleate cells) cells ranges from 0.00 to 33.04% and 3.49 to 7.55% respectively in CP treatments, and 0.00 to 21.24% and 0.00 to 6.07% in 5-FU treatments. Both the drugs induce similar aberration types; however, the effect is higher in CP than 5-FU. Result suggests that the chemotherapeutic drugs are clastogenic affecting spindle apparatus and cellular metabolism. The present study highlights the “Cytothreat” of the drugs and warrants safe dose application for ecological safety and non-targeted cells of the host system.