Apoptotic studies and phytochemical analyses in the suicide tree: Cerbera odollam Gaertn. (Apocyanaceae)

This book entitled “Apoptotic studies and phytochemical analyses in the suicide tree, Cerbera odollam Gaertn. (Apocynaceae)” reveals the apoptotic and phytochemical efficacy of a potential medicinal plant. C. odollam is native to India and other parts of southern Asia. The suicide plant, C. odollam has got kernels that contain a digoxin type cardenolide and cardiac toxin Cerberin that blocks the calcium ion channels in heart muscle, disrupting the heartbeat, which may be fatal if consumed. The aqueous solutions of the leaf extracts were assessed for the existence of potential phytochemical constituents. Quantitative preliminary phytochemical analysis was done to reveal total phenolic, flavonoid, terpenoid, and alkaloid content. Cytotoxic studies were carried out using Allium cepa root tip assay and the cell death was determined by Evans blue stain both macroscopically and spectrophotometrically. Cellular abnormalities like induction of binucleate cells, apoptotic fragmentation, ghost cell, giant cell, membrane blebs, sticky metaphase, etc. were observed during cytotoxic evaluation. The study reveals the significant apoptotic/cytotoxic activities of aqueous extracts of C. odollam.