The meristematic cells of root tips of Allim cepa are growing in rapid way. Many researchers are using this model to screen anticancer activity. The inhibition of root number and lengh as well as the different mitotic phases. Please suggest whether this cytotoxic capacity (the above model) can be used to screen anticancer activity instead of using cancer cell lines.
It's just my opinion, but I think using cancer cell lines to screen for anticancer activity is preferable to using plants, because there are very substantial differences between the proteins and signal transduction pathways of plants and mammals. The relevance of results from plant screening to human cells is far from clear, whereas the relevance of results from cancer cell lines to human cancer is, if not certain, at least highly likely.
Thank you Dr Adam B Shapiro for sharing your answer.
It is very true that there is huge difference between proteins and signal transduction between plants and animal cells. But the Allium cepa model help us to screen the cytotoxic potential of the drugs because here we can study the effect of drug on chromosomal abbretions and on different phages of mitosis. As the maintenance of cell lines facilities are not available in all labs. Can this model be used for initial screening of drugs for cytotoxic effect and based on the findings can we proceed for the effect on various specific cell lines. I am not specialised in biotechnology. Hence you are requested to advice me about this point.
Sir
Here are some of the research where they used this model.
Article Evaluation of antimitotic activity of Rotula aquatica (Lour)...
Article Biological assay and antimitotic activity of novel analogues...
Article Phytochemical screening and antioxidant, antimitotic, and an...
I have no expertise in the use of plants to screen compounds as a surrogate for testing in human cells. I do not think such an approach would be attractive in a pharmaceutical company drug discovery setting, and I have never heard of it being used in such a setting. I can understand that where basic cell culture facilities are not available, one must do what one can, but keep in mind that it will eventually be necessary to do the test on the human cell lines, cancer cell xenografts in mice, and so forth. Perhaps you can find a collaborator to help with these experiments.
- Badges
- Science topic