Pepper, Capsicum frutescens is an important Solanaceae species used as a common spice for food in many countries and in particular Cameroonian
households. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytogenotoxic effect of the aqueous extract from C. frutescens fruits on the pest grasshopper
Taphronota thaelephora (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) germ line cells by cytogenetic studies that have never been done before for pepper extracts. For
this, adult individuals of T. thaelephora were treated for 72 hours with different concentrations of pepper extracts (0%, 10%, 25%, 40%, 50% & 60%).
Chromosome number and the meiotic behaviour of chromosomes were analyzed. The results revealed that the extract did not induce chromosome breaks
but could induce laggards and bridges in meiotic anaphases 1 &2 and metaphase -2 in the male germ cells of T. thaelephora. Increasing the concentration
of the extract also significantly increased (P<0.05) meiotic abnormalities in the germ line of T. thaelephora. Chiasma frequency significantly increased
when the concentration of the aqueous extract of C. Frutescens was increased.
Author(s): Seino RA, Dongmo TI, Chifon RN, and Shambo DN