study
Philippine Journal of Science
134 (1): 31-37, June 2005
ISSN 0031 - 7683
31
Merlyn S. Mendioro
*
,
Maria Genaleen Q. Diaz
,
Maria Theresa B. Alcantara,
Oscar J. Hilario, Patrocinio Mateo and Reycel D.M. Maghirang
Key words
: cytological studies, iron-acetocarmine squash technique,
Euphorbia
,
Moringa
,
Chrysanthemum
, karyotype
*Corresponding author: msmendioro@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
Plant products are widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industries. Many pharmaceutical companies in the
Western world depend on many plants for their medicinal properties. Pharmacopoeias have developed from ancient herbs (de Padua et al. 1977; de Padua 1996).
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. or poinsettia (Fig. 1a), which is commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes has curative properties, too. Decoction of the bracts and flowers are taken as galactagogue by nursing women to increase milk flow although the practice is said to be
Cytological Studies of Selected Medicinal Plants:
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. ex Klotz.,
Moringa oleifera
Lam.,
Catharanthus roseus
(L.) Don., and Chrysanthemum indicum
Linn.
Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines
Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Meioses I and II in young flower buds of
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. ex Klotz. (poinsettia),
Moringa oleifera
Lam. (malunggay), and
Catharanthus roseus
(L.) Don. (periwinkle) were studied using iron-acetocarmine squash technique. The chromosome number of
C. roseus is 2n=16 while both
M. oleifera and E. pulcherrima have 2n=28. Although late disjunction and presence of laggards were noted at Metaphase I, Anaphase I and II, Telophase I and II were 100% normal.
These would indicate that lagging chromosomes were able to catch up, reached the opposite poles, and were included in daughter nuclei. Highly normal meiosis I and II resulted to high
134 (1): 31-37, June 2005
ISSN 0031 - 7683
31
Merlyn S. Mendioro
*
,
Maria Genaleen Q. Diaz
,
Maria Theresa B. Alcantara,
Oscar J. Hilario, Patrocinio Mateo and Reycel D.M. Maghirang
Key words
: cytological studies, iron-acetocarmine squash technique,
Euphorbia
,
Moringa
,
Chrysanthemum
, karyotype
*Corresponding author: msmendioro@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
Plant products are widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industries. Many pharmaceutical companies in the
Western world depend on many plants for their medicinal properties. Pharmacopoeias have developed from ancient herbs (de Padua et al. 1977; de Padua 1996).
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. or poinsettia (Fig. 1a), which is commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes has curative properties, too. Decoction of the bracts and flowers are taken as galactagogue by nursing women to increase milk flow although the practice is said to be
Cytological Studies of Selected Medicinal Plants:
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. ex Klotz.,
Moringa oleifera
Lam.,
Catharanthus roseus
(L.) Don., and Chrysanthemum indicum
Linn.
Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines
Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Meioses I and II in young flower buds of
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Willd. ex Klotz. (poinsettia),
Moringa oleifera
Lam. (malunggay), and
Catharanthus roseus
(L.) Don. (periwinkle) were studied using iron-acetocarmine squash technique. The chromosome number of
C. roseus is 2n=16 while both
M. oleifera and E. pulcherrima have 2n=28. Although late disjunction and presence of laggards were noted at Metaphase I, Anaphase I and II, Telophase I and II were 100% normal.
These would indicate that lagging chromosomes were able to catch up, reached the opposite poles, and were included in daughter nuclei. Highly normal meiosis I and II resulted to high