Biological effects of some Colchicum autumnale L. extracts on tissue development of two varieties of Ocimum basilicum L.

Abstract

Colchicum autumnale L. is a perennial herb from the Colchicaceae family with an unusual life cycle, and it is characterized by an underground corm and hypogynous flowers that appear in autumn; its medicinal importance is represented by its primary alkaloid, colchicine, which has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and antimitotic properties and used in the treatment of some diseases and artificial polyploidy induction in plants. This study aims to determine and evaluate the biological effects induced by treatment with C. autumnale extracts on tissue development in test plants, represented by two Ocimum basilicum L. varieties: ‘Italiano Classico’ and ‘Aromat de Buzău’. Morpho-anatomical observations and some biochemical and physiological analyses were employed. Results show unusual shapes of leaves, differences in stomata size and density, and heteromorphic cells in leaves and epicotyl’s structure in both studied varieties of treated basil test plants.