Investigating the toxicity of tropical reservoir sediments using the Allium test

Water pollution is a global environmental issue, and aquatic sediments are important compartments that might act as sinks or sources of contaminants. Once in the environment, inorganic contaminants such as metals can cause cytogenotoxic effects that damage genetic material and harm the aquatic community. Biological assays such as the Allium test can be used to investigate potential cytogenotoxicity of contaminated sediments based on the alterations of cell cycle indexes and chromosomal aberration frequencies. Therefore, we aimed to assess the toxicity of sediments from four Brazilian reservoirs using the Allium test. Sediments were sampled and elutriates were prepared in a simulating sediment resuspension in the water column. The Allium test was applied to the elutriates, and the metals copper, chromium, cadmium, lead, zinc, and iron were quantified. The elutriates derived from reservoir sediments were able to reduce the mitotic and anaphase index, increase the prophase and metaphase index, and boost chromosomal aberrations compared to the negative control. The cytogenotoxic effects observed may be linked to the presence of copper, zinc, and iron. Therefore, our results showed that the Allium test was a sensitive tool for warning the occurrence of genotoxic contaminants in sediment elutriates from four Brazilian reservoirs.

Toxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of Poligonum weyrichii Fr. Schmidt on the Allium test taken as an example.

The plant Poligonum weyrichii Fr. Schmidt is a promising plant in Murmansk region because it is a valuable source of flavonoid compounds. The aim of the study is to investigate, using a sensitive and the well-established Allium test, toxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of inflorescences and leaves of the middle tier, which differ in concentration (20, 50, 80 and 100%). According to the observations, the 50%, 80% and 100% concentration aqueous extracts of inflorescences and leaves of P. weyrichii have a mitodepressive effect on the cells of the root meristem of Allium cepa L., and inhibit the root growth, causing chromosomal abnormalities. The further investigations are necessary on selection of such aqueous extracts concentrations of P. weyrichii because this plant is the source of biologically active compounds.

Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Methanol Extracts of Some Gypsophila L. Species

In this study, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Gypsophila perfoliata L. var. perfoliata, Gypsophila perfoliata L. var. araratica Kit Tan, Gypsophila pilosa Hudson and Gypsophila osmangaziensis Ataşlar & Ocak plant extracts have been examined by using Allium Test method. Methanol extracts of plants have been prepared in 4 different concentrations (0.625 mg/ml, 1.250 mg/ml, 2.500 mg/ml and 5.000 mg/ml). After the onion roots were treated at these concentrations of plant extracts for 24 hours and 48 hours, mitosis preparations were prepared from these root tips. With the data being obtained by evaluating the preparations, mitotic index (%) and chromosome aberration (%) values have been calculated. Distilled water has been used as control group. It was found out that mitotic index and chromosome aberration values of all species showed significant differences compared to control group in the extract concentration range of 1.250–5.000 mg/ml. It has been determined that the most widely observed chromosome aberrations were disturbed metaphase, sticky metaphase, c-metaphase, disturbed anaphase and anaphase bridge.

Assessment of ecotoxical state of technologically modified edaphotopes with waste of oil refinery with the Allium-test method

The ecotoxic state of technologically modified edaphotopes by waste of refinery was investigated with the Allium-test method. Material for the investigations was samples of edaphotopes which were selected at a depth of 15–20 cm from seven research areas of different locations. The last ones were 10–200 m away in relation to the surface storages of oil sludge and other waste of refinery. It has been detected in Allium-test that edaphotopes of the research areas located at a distance of 10–50 m relative to the storages of waste are toxic. Particularly, their aqueous extracts cause a medium and high level of phyto-, cyto- and genotoxic effects on the growing and proliferative activity of Allium cepa Stuttgarter Riesen variety meristem. Test extracts of edaphotopes in growing Allium-test caused darkening of rootlets and blackening of their tips (contrary to the light rootlets with light tips in control). In addition to it the growing activity of A. сepa bulb roots that were grown on the aqueous extracts of edaphotopes was decreased in 1.71–3.5 times depending on the location and measure of remoteness of the research area from the storage of waste of the refinery. Phytotoxicity of aqueous extracts of those edaphotopes regarding to A. сepa is above average and higher levels, and tolerance of onion rootlets to the test extracts decreases up to 29–52 % comparing to control. The mitotic activity of apical meristem of rootlets also decreased. Particularly, mitotic indexes diminished to 51.05–63.57 % (in control – 82.34 %) and cytotoxicity ones were in the range of 22.8–48.0 % that confirms the medial level of cytotoxicity of the investigated edaphotopes. Ana-telophase method and micronucleus test have shown that the chromosome aberrations frequency and appearance of micronuclei in the cells of the apical meristem of the test object A. cepa is higher in 3.34–5.20 times comparing to control. It indicates the average and the high level of genotoxicity of the investigated edaphotopes. The edaphotopes, which are located at the distance of 100–200 m in relation to the surface storages of waste of refinery have a slight phyto-, cyto- and genotoxic effects which are close to the background level.

The assessment of the environmental hazard of isomers of 1,2,4-triazole phenolic derivatives for natural ecosystems

Its necessary to synthesize homologues of compounds frequently used in practice and to analyze their biological activity in laboratory experiments using screening tests that provide an integral assessment of biological responses to assess the effect of anthropogenic xenobiotics with different structures on ecosystems adjacent to agricultural complexes. We analyzed alcohol solutions of 2-(1H-1,2,4-triazolyl-methyl)phenol (ortho-isomer) and 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazolyl-methyl)phenol (para-isomer) in three concentrations: 0,0001; 0,001; 0.01 mg/ml using the Allium-test. The solvent was 0,1% isopropyl alcohol; the test object was Allium fistulosum L. The duration of the experiment was 5 days. Triazolide solutions significantly inhibited seed germination at all investigated concentrations. However, no significant differences were found between the isomers and the studied concentrations. Both isomers inhibited root growth at all concentrations tested. The toxicity of a triazolide containing an OH group in the para-position didnt change over the selected concentration range. For its ortho-isomer, toxicity increased with increasing concentration, reaching the toxicity of its homologue at a dose of 0,01 mg/ml. Both tested compounds significantly inhibited the proliferation of meristem cells as compared to the control. At the same time, no differences were observed in the effect of homologues with the OH-group in the para- and ortho-position on the value of the mitotic index. However, we found a paradoxical reaction: both homologues showed maximum cytotoxicity at a minimum concentration of 0,0001 mg/ml, and cytotoxicity decreased with increasing concentration compared to control. A triazolid containing an OH group in the para-position caused a block at the metaphase and anaphase stages at the lowest concentration. The specificity of its action disappeared with an increase in concentration, which was expressed in a general prophase and metaphase block. Its ortho-isomer inhibited cell division at all concentrations at the prophase stage. Both compounds are mutagenic. The number of chromosomal aberrations depended on both the structure of the compounds and their concentration. The para-homologue is less mutagenic than ortho. In the ortho-homologue, mutagenicity decreased slightly with increasing concentration. The highest mutagenicity was found for the ortho-homologue at its lowest concentration. The paper discusses possible mechanisms of action of isomers and their negative impact on plant organisms in ecosystems.

Agrochemical Effects Of Plasma-Treated Wate

Plasma-treated water can positively influence on plants, but the effect depends on a type of plasma-generating setup. Experimental setup with rather short time of water treatment was created and biological effects of plasma-treated water produced by it were investigated. The setup generated electric-discharge low-temperature plasma in air bubbles moving through water. Electric discharges were initiated by high voltage pulses with amplitude of ~ 30 kV and rise front ~ 8 mks at frequency up to 500 Hz. After 2-3 minutes of water treatment by the electric-discharge plasma increase of electric conductivity and redox potential, concentrations of nitric acid were observed in water. Treatment of pumpkin, beet and pea seeds in experimental device (together with water) stimulated their germination. Plasma-treated water alone also stimulated germination of pea and bean seeds, increased yield of fruit body mass for oyster mushroom. Allium test showed inhibition of root growth by plasma-treated water due to its low pH, but neutralization with NaOH, Na2CO3 or Ca(OH)2 eliminated this effect. The authors suppose that the created setup can be applied in local crop farms for seeds disinfection and growth stimulation.

Studying the mutagenic activity of drinking water and soil samples selected from Kentau and adjacent territories

In the course of carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the state of the environment and health of the population of the city of Kentau and adjacent territories, a study of the mutagenic activity of drinking water and soil samples taken in the territory of Kentau and adjacent settlements, the background territory and the comparison territory was carried out. In the course of the study, it was revealed that individual samples of drinking water and water extracts of soils cause a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in the cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes and in the Allium-test. Analysis of the total mutagenic activity of the samples under study indicates the absence of a fundamentally contaminated and/or clean territory in the studied region, which indicates their general contamination with a tendency to increase contamination in some places.

Preliminary safety evaluation of n-butanol from the collagen extraction process and of collagen extract from Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) skin oriented for dermocosmetics

Obtaining new cosmetic ingredients, mainly from sustainable sources, as novel excipients or even active compounds is noteworthy for the cosmetic industry to enhance new innovative dermocosmetics. Thus, it is essential to establish the safety of these new ingredients to avoid adverse events, mainly those associated with clastogenic effects from the chemical compounds used for collagen extraction. In this study, we evaluated solutions of chemical compounds used in the collagen extraction process from tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus). The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the solutions used in the collagen extraction process were 10.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1% n-butanol. Solutions were evaluated by the Allium test and the comet assay in peripheral white blood cells. The residual water from the final skin wash in the pre-treatment phase and the 0.5% lyophilized collagen extract were also investigated. The absence of cytotoxic and genotoxic activity was demonstrated in the collagen extract, despite the fact that n-butanol showed DNA damage, both in the root cells of Allium cepa and in the white blood cells of human peripheral blood. Therefore, we note the necessity to carry out genotoxicity tests to guarantee the absence of contaminants in the collagen extract for cosmetic purposes