Search Results (11)

Origanum vulgare L. is ethnomedicinally valuable against various diseases. In Romania, attention for the oregano extracts such as infusions, decoctions, or tinctures, which are very popular among consumers, is constantly increasing, mainly as an important therapeutic alternative. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the comparative cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of local oregano using a sustainable method such as the Allium cepa assay. Two aqueous oregano extracts obtained by infusion (I01) and decoction (D02) and two hydroalcoholic extracts (E03—water/ethanol 80:20 v/v; E04—water/ethanol 60:40 v/v) were used in this study. Before performing the Allium cepa test, a phytochemical screening carried out using fast and efficient analytical methods (electrometry, colorimetry, UV-Vis spectrometry, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography/HPTLC) allowed the qualitative differences in the chemical profile of the investigated oregano extracts to be highlighted. The aqueous and hydroalcoholic oregano extracts were tested on root meristems of Allium cepa and the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity parameters evaluated were the mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberration (CA). The results revealed a decrease in MI for each analyzed sample, with hydroethanolic extract E04 showing the most significant effect on MI (9.66%, 3 times less than that of the control sample), followed by the D02 sample obtained by decoction. Chromosomal aberrations such as the ana-telophase with bridges, expelled chromosomes, or delayed chromosomes were observed in all four extracts. The frequency of cells with CA was higher in the case of samples treated with hydroalcoholic extracts compared to aqueous extracts. The experimental extraction conditions influenced the mitotic index, the varieties of identified chromosomal aberrations, and their frequency. Therefore, based on the result obtained in this study, it may be concluded that the Oregano vulgare L. extracts present cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on onion cells. The Allium cepa assay proves to be an easy-to-handle method, with reliable results, minimal cost, and environmental friendliness for the evaluation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of oregano extracts. Full article

Flubendiamide (FLB) is an insecticide that is commonly employed to control pests on a variety of vegetables and fruits, with low toxicity for non-target organisms. However, due to its widespread use, the environmental risks and food safety have become major concerns. In this study, the toxicity potential of FLB was studied in the model organisms, Allium cepa and Drosophila melanogaster. The cyto-genotoxic effects of FLB on the root growth, mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in A. cepa root meristematic cells were investigated using the root growth inhibition Allium test and Comet assays. FLB caused CAs in the form of disturbed ana-telophase, chromosome laggards, stickiness, anaphase-bridge and polyploidy depending on the concentration and the exposure time. The toxicity and genotoxicity of FLB at various doses (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM) on D. melanogaster were investigated from the point of view of larval weight and movement, pupal formation success, pupal position, emergence success and DNA damage, respectively. FLB exposure led to a significant reduction of the locomotor activity at the highest concentration. While DNA damage increased significantly in the FLB-treated onions depending on the concentration and time, DNA damage in the FLB-treated D. melanogaster significantly increased only at the highest dose compared to that which occurred in the control group. Moreover, to provide a mechanistic insight into the genotoxic and locomotion-disrupting effects of FLB, molecular docking simulations of this pesticide were performed against the DNA and diamondback moth (DBM) ryanodine receptor (RyR) Repeat34 domain. The docking studies revealed that FLB binds strongly to a DNA region that is rich in cytosine-guanine-adenine bases (C-G-A) in the minor groove, and it displayed a remarkable binding affinity against the DBM RyR Repeat34 domain. Full article

The use of biocompatible and low-cost polymeric matrices to produce non-phytotoxic nanoparticles for delivery systems is a promising alternative for good practices in agriculture management and biotechnological applications. In this context, there is still a lack of studies devoted to producing low-cost polymeric nanoparticles that exhibit non-phytotoxic properties. Among the different polymeric matrices that can be used to produce low-cost nanoparticles, we can highlight the potential application of cellulose acetate, a natural biopolymer with biocompatible and biodegradable properties, which has already been used as fibers, membranes, and films in different agricultural and biotechnological applications. Here, we provided a simple and low-cost route to produce cellulose acetate nanoparticles (CA-NPs), by modified emulsification solvent evaporation technique, with a main diameter of around 200 nm and a spherical and smooth morphology for potential use as agrochemical nanocarriers. The non-phytotoxic properties of the produced cellulose acetate nanoparticles were proved by performing a plant toxic test by Allium cepa assay. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests allowed us to evaluate the mitotic process, chromosomal abnormalities, inhibition/delay in root growth, and micronucleus induction. In summary, the results demonstrated that CA-NPs did not induce phytotoxic, cytotoxic, or genotoxic effects, and they did not promote changes in the root elongation, germination or in the mitotic, chromosomal aberration, and micronucleus indices. Consequently, the present findings indicated that CA-NPs can be potentially used as environmentally friendly nanoparticles. Full article

The unpredictable invasion of the Mupli beetle, Luprops tristis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), makes areas uninhabitable to humans. These beetles produce a strong-smelling, irritating secretion as a defence mechanism, which causes blisters on contact with human skin. In the current study, gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) analysis of the defensive gland extract of the Mupli beetle revealed the presence of compounds such as 2,3,dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzene, 2,5-dimethyl hydroquinone, tetracosane, oleic acid, hexacosane, pentacosane, 7-hexadecenal and tert-hexadecanethiol. The defensive gland extracts showed considerable antibacterial activity on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in an agar diffusion assay. The chromosomal aberration analysis using root tips of Allium cepa L. exposed to the defensive secretion showed chromosomal aberrations such as disturbed metaphase, sticky chromosomes and chromosomal breakage. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined using a radical scavenging (DPPH) assay. A cytotoxic assay of the defensive gland extract against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) cell line showed anticancer properties. In the present study, the defensive gland extract of the Mupli beetle, L. tristis, which is generally perceived as a nuisance insect to humans, was found to have beneficial biological activities. Full article

Having started in the 1930-40s, the industrial development of the Kola North has caused elevated environmental pollution of the area’s water bodies. The pollutants contained in dust emissions, dissolved substances and waste waters require their genotoxicity to be estimated using in vivo assays. This article addresses the effect of pollutants entering the water bodies of the Murmansk region together with mining waste, which leads to a decrease in mitotic activity and an increase in chromosomal abnormalities in the roots of Allium cepa L. The evaluated waters showed an effect of reducing the mitotic index and the appearance of chromosomal aberrations; this may be associated with the presence of compounds in the water, such as mining waste. Full article

This study was conducted to evaluate whether the application of proline as a potential osmoprotectant at different doses could improve the genotoxic and mutagenic effects caused by plant exposure to cadmium salts. For this purpose, the Comet assay was used, which allows the rapid detection of DNA damage shortly after its occurrence, before the DNA is repaired, as well as the discrimination of the DNA damage limited to specific cells in a heterogeneous population. After treatment of Allium cepa roots with 75µM CdSO₄·H₂O (Cd sample), a DNA percentage of 35.24% was recorded in the tail. In the samples treated first with proline and then with cadmium (pre-treatment group), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 24.8% compared with the Cd sample. Instead, in the post-treatment group (samples treated first with cadmium and then with proline), the percentage DNA in the tail was reduced by 69.04% compared with the Cd sample. All cadmium treatments induced chromosomal aberrations (CAs). Compared with the CAs values obtained after Cd treatment, the reduction was 75.6% in the pre-treatment group and 55.39% in the post-treatment group. The results of this study highlighted that exogenous application of proline alleviated the genotoxic effect of cadmium. Full article

The polystyrene micro-plastics (Ps-MPs) is one of the leading pollutants found in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. While most of the studies on the morphology and cyto-toxicity of MPs have been based on aquatic organisms, their effects on terrestrial plants are still scarcely known. The present study was an attempt to measure the effect of different sizes (80, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 nm) and concentrations (100 and 400 mg/L) of Ps-MPs on the root length and chromosomes of root tip cells of Allium cepa using A. cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. Large size Ps-MPs (4000 and 8000 nm) showed the highest reduction in A. cepa root length; however, the differences were not significant (at p ≤ 0.05), with respect to negative control (Milli-Q water). The mitotic index showed both significant size- and concentration-dependent decreases, being the lowest (12.06%) in 100 nm at 100 mg/L concentration, with respect to the control (25.05%). The chromosomal abnormality index (CAI) and nuclear abnormality index (NAI) showed significant decreases, with respect to negative control. In addition, the induction of micro-nucleated cells was also observed in Allium root tip cells, when treated with MPs of all sizes, which can predict direct DNA damage to the plant cells. Hence, we conclude that most of the MP sizes caused cyto-toxic and nuclear damage by adversely impacting the spindle formation and induction of micro-nucleated cells in Allium cepa root tip cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed the effect of considerable size range of Ps-MP sizes on the root length and cell division in plants. Full article

The present study pertains to assessing the heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn) contents of untreated and treated effluents of two textile industries and agricultural soil samples in the vicinity of these industries located in Ludhiana, Punjab (India). The genotoxicity of the effluents samples was estimated using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The exposure of Allium cepa roots to untreated effluents from both industries resulted in the reduction of mitotic index (MI) and increase in chromosomal aberrations in the root tip meristematic cells when compared to those that were exposed to the treated effluents indicating the significant genotoxic potential of untreated effluents. Risk characterization of soil sample was carried out by calculating the potential ecological and human health risks of heavy metals. The hazard index was observed to be less than 1, indicating there was no potential health risk of heavy metals in soil samples. Furthermore, bioaccumulation potential studies on plant species grown in the vicinity of these industries have shown that bioaccumulation factor (BAF) varied as Ricinus communis L. > Chenopodium album L. > Cannabis sativa L. with Co and Pb having maximum and minimum values, respectively. Full article

Antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viral infections are among the emerging contaminants considered for ecological risk assessment. These compounds have been reported to be widely distributed in water bodies and other aquatic environments, while data concerning the risk they may pose to unintended non-target species in a different ecosystem (environment) is scanty. In South Africa and other developing countries, lamivudine is one of the common antiretrovirals applied. Despite this, little is known about its environmental impacts as an emerging contaminant. The present study employed a battery of ecotoxicity bioassays to assess the environmental threat lamivudine poses to aquatic fauna and flora. Daphnia magna (filter feeders), the Ames bacterial mutagenicity test, Lactuca sativa (lettuce) germination test, and the Allium cepa root tip assay were conducted, testing lamivudine at two concentrations (10 and 100 µg/L), with environmental relevance. The Daphnia magna toxicity test revealed a statistically significant response (p << 0.05) with a mortality rate of 85% on exposure to 100 µg/L lamivudine in freshwater, which increased to 100% at 48-h exposure. At lower concentrations of 10 µg/L lamivudine, 90% and 55% survival rates were observed at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. No potential mutagenic effects were observed from the Ames test at both concentrations of lamivudine. Allium cepa bioassays revealed a noticeable adverse impact on the root lengths on exposure to 100 µg/L lamivudine. This impact was further investigated through microscopic examination, revealing some chromosomal aberration in the exposed Allium cepa root tips. The Lactuca sativa bioassay showed a slight adverse impact on both the germination rate of the seeds and their respective hypocotyl lengths compared to the control. Overall, this indicates that lamivudine poses an ecological health risk at different trophic levels, to both flora and fauna, at concentrations previously found in the environment. Full article

The human and environmental impact of electronic waste is increasing due to its careless disposal. Cytogenotoxicity of electronic waste from Iloabuchi electronic market, Diobu, Rivers State was investigated using the Allium cepa bioassay comprised of the root elongation and chromosome aberration tests. Leachate samples of e-waste analysed were above maximum permissible limits. Toxicity to root growth of A. cepa was evaluated at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, and 100% showed root growth inhibition at all concentrations of the samples compared to the control and root growth inhibition was concentration dependent. An effective concentration (EC₅₀) at which root growth amounted to 50 % of control for the sample was 37.5%. Various morphological defects of the onion roots were observed including short, crochet roots, C-tumor roots and severe toxic effects where no growth was observed. In the in vivo genotoxity assay, all samples lowered the frequency of mitotic cells in the meristematic region of the roots at statistically significant levels (P < 0.05) compared to the control and mitotic inhibition was also concentration dependent. There was significant induction of aberrations at all concentrations tested compared to control. The high metal content of the e-waste leachate may be responsible for observed cytotoxicity in A. cepa roots cells. Full article

The potential genotoxic effects of methanolic extracts of Euphorbia hirta which is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseased conditions including asthma, coughs, diarrhea and dysentery was investigated using Allium cepa assay. The extracts of 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 µg/mL were tested on root meristems of A. cepa. Ethylmethanesulfonate was used as positive control and distilled water was used as negative control. The result showed that mitotic index decreased as the concentrations of E. hirta extract increased. A dose-dependent increase of chromosome aberrations was also observed. Abnormalities scored were stickiness, c-mitosis, bridges and vagrant chromosomes. Micronucleated cells were also observed at interphase. Result of this study confirmed that the methanol extracts of E. hirta exerted significant genotoxic and mitodepressive effects at 1,000 µg/mL. Full article