Mutagenic screening of some commonly used medicinal plants in Nigeria

The uses of medicinal plants have always been part of human culture. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80% of the world's population relies on traditional medicinal system for some aspect of primary health care. However, there are few reports on the toxicological properties of most medicinal plants especially, their mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, this research is to determine the mutagenic potentials of Morinda lucida Oruwo (Root)], Azadirachta indica Dongoyaro (Leaf)], Terapluera tetraptera Aridan (Fruit)], Plumbago zeylanica Inabiri (Root)], Xylopia aethiopica Erunje (Fruit)], Newbouldia laevis Akoko (Leaf)], Alstonia boonei Ahun (Bark)], Enantia chlorantha Awopa (Bark)], and Rauvolfia vomitoria Asofeyeje (Root)] using the Allium cepa Linn. model and the modified Ames assay.