Estudio de genotoxicidad de Picrasma crenata (Vell.) Engl. -Simaroubaceae-

infusions of picrasma crenata woods are used in folk medicine against lice and as a non astringent bitter tonic. the active principles responsible for the activity are the quasinoides. the objectives of this work are: to establish the activity of the infusions on the development by roots and the cellular division by means of the test of allium cepa; to analyze the correlation of the concentrations with macro and microscopic parameters and to conclude about the possible genotoxicity of the infusion. the used concentrations were 2.5 mg%; 5,0 mg%, 10,0 mg%, 20,0 mg% and 40,0 mg%. a statistically significant correlation between the concentrations and the roots lengths and macroscopic aberrations and a significant correlation between the mitotic index and the roots lengths and microscopic aberrations have been observed. thus, it is possible to deduce that the extracts in the tested concentrations could present genotoxic activity.