Medicinal
plants exist as the backbone of traditional medicine since Vedic times. Cassava
(Manihot esculenta Crantz,) is drought resistant staple food in
subtropical and tropical regions and which contain starch in higher amount. The
high starch content of cassava root is responsible for its suitability in wide
range of food industries, textile, pharmaceutical, detergent, and feed
industries. Recent investigations showed that many plants used as food or
traditional medicine have cytotoxic and genotoxic effects and mutagenic effects
in vitro and in vivo assays. This raises concern about the
potential genotoxic mutagenic or hazards resulting from the long-term use of
these plants.
Even though Manihot esculenta Crantz, root tuber is used in
medicine and as food, because of its neurotoxic effects in animals, it is
essential to study the cytotoxicity also. However, cyanogenic glycosides
secreted in cassava produce hydrogen cyanide and are accounting for its safety
concerns and toxicity. From this experiment it has been concluded that Manihot
esculenta Crantz root tuber raw has high cytotoxic activity. From this it
is clear that Manihot esculenta Crantz, root tuber extract has
mito-depressive activity on cell division. As the concentration of extract
increases mito- depressive activity also increases. As the concentration
decreases, the cytotoxicity also decreases. So as a food or medicine it can be
used in very low concentration. From the phytochemical analysis it is clear
that the extract of Manihot esculenta Crantz, root tuber raw contain
Protein, carbohydrates, Alkaloid, Flavonoids, Glycosides etc.
