Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenol carboxylic acid, an ester of caffeic acid with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, found in many species. Current study was aimed to investigate the mitotic division, chromosomal and genotoxic effects of RA on Allium cepa root meristematic cells. In Allium root growth inhibition test, EC₅₀ value was found as 100 ppm. Three concentrations (50, 100, and 200 ppm) of RA under different exposure periods (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) were employed to onion tuber roots. Distilled water and methyl methane sulfonate (MMS, 10 ppm) were used as a negative and positive control, respectively. 100 (except 24 h) and 200 ppm of RA significantly decreased mitotic index (MI). There was an increase of total chromosomal aberrations (CAs) at 50 ppm and simultaneous decrease of CAs at 200 ppm concentrations (p < 0.05). A significant increase in DNA damage was also observed at 200 ppm by Comet assay. Quantitative analysis of RA in A. cepa root meristem cells was also done by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Further investigations are required to explore the molecular mechanism involved in the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of RA on plants.

迷迭香酸 (RA) 是一种天然多酚羧酸，是咖啡酸与 3,4-二羟基苯基乳酸的酯，存在于许多物种中。目前的研究旨在探讨 RA 对洋葱根分生细胞的有丝分裂、染色体和基因毒性作用。在葱根生长抑制试验中，EC ₅₀值为100 ppm。将不同暴露时间（24、48、72 和 96 小时）下的三种浓度（50、100 和 200 ppm）的 RA 用于洋葱块根。蒸馏水和甲磺酸甲酯（MMS，10 ppm）分别用作阴性和阳性对照。 100（24 小时除外）和 200 ppm 的 RA 显着降低有丝分裂指数 (MI)。 50 ppm 浓度下，总染色体畸变 (CA) 增加，而 200 ppm 浓度下，总染色体畸变 (CA) 减少 (p < 0.05)。通过 Comet 检测，在 200 ppm 浓度下，DNA 损伤也显着增加。还通过液相色谱-串联质谱 (LC-MS/MS) 对洋葱根分生组织细胞中的 RA 进行了定量分析。需要进一步研究来探索RA对植物的细胞毒性和遗传毒性的分子机制。