Phytochemical characterization, isolation, antioxidant and cytogenotoxic activity of leaves of Heliotropium elongatum (Lehm) I.M. Johnst.

Heliotropium elongatum is used to treat inflammation, cough, and flu. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and determine the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant and cytogenotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract (EE), and fractions of H. elongatum leaves. In the phytochemical profile analysis, organic acids, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, steroids/triterpenes, and depsides/depsidones were detected in the EE and/or fractions (hexanic/FH, chloroformic/FC, ethyl acetate/FAE, and hydromethanolic/FHM). The highest TPC and highest antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) was detected in FHM. In FH, 16 compounds were identified by GC-MS, and ursolic acid was isolated by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. HPLC-DAD from EE, FAE, and FHM demonstrated characteristic wavelengths for flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, and anthraquinones. ESI-IT/MSn analysis of EE, FC, FAE, and FHM revealed alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. In Allium cepa assay there was no significant cytotoxic effect initiated by EE (62.5 to 1,000 µg/ml), FHM (1,000 µg/ml), and FAE (62.5 µg/ml). Genotoxicity was evidenced only with EE at 500 and 1,000 µg/ml, and FHM (62.5 to 1,000 µg/ml) as evidenced by presence of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear buds (NB). Our results identified compounds of medicinal interest with antioxidant activity; however observed cytogenotoxic changes indicated the need for caution when using these compounds for therapeutic purposes.

Water assessment of the Itapemirim River/Espírito Santo (Brazil): abiotic and toxicogenetic aspects.

The Itapemirim River is considered one of the most important water resources in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. However, environmental problems due to continuous anthropogenic contamination are threatening its potential use. This study assessed water quality by analyzing abiotic and toxicogenetic aspects of the water from four stations along the river. Samples were collected in both dry and rainy seasons. Most of the abiotic variables were below the threshold established by CONAMA Resolution No. 357/2005, and so were most of the metals. However, Al and Cu contents were above those allowed by legislation, ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 mg/L. Regarding toxicogenetic aspects, genotoxic effects were observed in meristematic cells of Allium cepa, in micronucleus test and comet assay of Oreochromis niloticus, and CHO-K1 cells. Mutagenic effects were significant at RI 02 (0.34), RI 03 (0.46), and RI 04 (0.12) stations on the first campaign in A. cepa F1 cells, compared to the negative control (0.0). The second campaign revealed the same results, but with the addition of samples from RI 01 (0.17) and RI 03 (0.18) showing mutagenicity in the micronucleus test with fish erythrocytes when compared to the negative control (0.3). Essentially, all the samples evaluated in both campaigns showed damage in A. cepa, O. niloticus, and CHO-K1 cells, thus demonstrating that the water quality of the Itapemirim River is compromised and requires action plans for its recovery.

Cytogenetic Study on the Biostimulation Potential of the Aqueous Fruit Extract of Hippophae rhamnoides for a Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystem.

This cytogenetic study evaluates the biostimulation potential of the aqueous extract of seabuckthorn fruits (AESF) in plant cells, using the Allium cepa species as a test plant. The effects were monitored both at the macroscopic and microscopically level. The onion bulbs were exposed to the action of different concentrations of AESF (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5%) for 72 h. The obtained results showed the positive effect induced by the aqueous extract on the growth of the meristematic roots, but only at concentrations ranging between 0.5-1.5%, when the average length of the roots had values between 2.51-3.40 cm, which means an increase compared to the untreated control with 3.71-40.49%. Within the same concentration range of the AESF, an effect of intensifying the mitotic activity was recorded. On the other hand, at the 2-2.5% concentration of the AESF, there was an inhibitory effect on the growth of meristematic roots. Additionally, concentrations ≥2% of AESF induced a cytotoxic and genotoxic effect through the occurrence of some chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities in A. cepa cells (sticky, laggards, ring chromosomes, and micronucleus). The obtained results suggest the biostimulation potential of the AESF for plant cells and the possibility of using it as an eco-friendly fertilizer.

Toxicity in food flavorings at the cellular level associated with each other at different doses / Toxicidade em nível celular de aromatizantes alimentares associados entre si em diferentes doses

This study aimed to examine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of synthetic flavorings, nature identical, Chocolate, Strawberry and Condensed Milk. This evaluation was performed in root meristem cells of Allium cepa L., in exposure times of 24 and 48 hours and using doses of 0.2; 0.4 and 0.6 mL, in combination, in which one of the three doses of a flavoring was combined with a different dose of one of the two other flavor additives studied. Roots were fixed in Carnoy's solution, hydrolyzed in hydrochloric acid, stained with acetic orcein and then analyzed, under light microscopy, 5,000 cells for each treatment. For data analysis, it was used Chi-square test at 5%. All the treatments with combinations between the flavorings Chocolate/Strawberry and Strawberry/Condensed Milk reduced, in both exposure times considered, cell division of A. cepa roots, proving to be cytotoxic. In turn, the treatments with the association of Chocolate/Condensed Milk did not change significantly the mitotic index of the cells analyzed. The Strawberry flavoring was the most cytotoxic among the additives tested. None of the evaluated associations was genotoxic under the study conditions.

Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a citoxicidade e genotoxicidade de aromatizantes alimentares sintéticos de chocolate, morango e leite condensado. Esta avaliação ocorreu por meio das células meristemáticas de raízes de A. cepa L., nos tempos de exposição de 24 e 48h e nas doses de 0,2; 0,4 e 0,6 mL, em associação, em que para uma das três doses de um dos aromatizantes associou-se uma dose diferente de um dos outros dois aditivos de aroma em estudo. Em seguida, as raízes foram fixadas em solução de Carnoy, hidrolisadas em ácido clorídrico e coradas com orceína acética. Analisaram-se, em microscópio óptico, 5.000 células para cada grupo tratamento, e utilizou-se o teste estatístico Qui-quadrado a 5% para análise dos dados. A partir dos resultados, verificou-se que todos os tratamentos decorrentes das associações entre chocolate/morango e morango/leite condensado reduziram, nos dois tempos de exposição considerados, a divisão celular das raízes A. cepa, mostrando-se citotóxicos. Já os tratamentos provenientes da associação chocolate/leite condensado não alteraram de forma significativa os índices mitóticos das células do tecido em análise. Foi possível inferir que o aditivo de morango foi o mais citotóxico dos aditivos em estudo. Nenhuma das associações avaliadas foi genotóxica nestas condições de estudo.

Toxicity in food flavorings at the cellular level associated with each other at different doses / Toxicidade em nível celular de aromatizantes alimentares associados entre si em diferentes doses

This study aimed to examine the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of synthetic flavorings, nature identical, Chocolate, Strawberry and Condensed Milk. This evaluation was performed in root meristem cells of Allium cepa L., in exposure times of 24 and 48 hours and using doses of 0.2; 0.4 and 0.6 mL, in combination, in which one of the three doses of a flavoring was combined with a different dose of one of the two other flavor additives studied. Roots were fixed in Carnoys solution, hydrolyzed in hydrochloric acid, stained with acetic orcein and then analyzed, under light microscopy, 5,000 cells for each treatment. For data analysis, it was used Chi-square test at 5%. All the treatments with combinations between the flavorings Chocolate/Strawberry and Strawberry/Condensed Milk reduced, in both exposure times considered, cell division of A. cepa roots, proving to be cytotoxic. In turn, the treatments with the association of Chocolate/Condensed Milk did not change significantly the mitotic index of the cells analyzed. The Strawberry flavoring was the most cytotoxic among the additives tested. None of the evaluated associations was genotoxic under the study conditions.

Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a citoxicidade e genotoxicidade de aromatizantes alimentares sintéticos de chocolate, morango e leite condensado. Esta avaliação ocorreu por meio das células meristemáticas de raízes de A. cepa L., nos tempos de exposição de 24 e 48h e nas doses de 0,2; 0,4 e 0,6 mL, em associação, em que para uma das três doses de um dos aromatizantes associou-se uma dose diferente de um dos outros dois aditivos de aroma em estudo. Em seguida, as raízes foram fixadas em solução de Carnoy, hidrolisadas em ácido clorídrico e coradas com orceína acética. Analisaram-se, em microscópio óptico, 5.000 células para cada grupo tratamento, e utilizou-se o teste estatístico Qui-quadrado a 5% para análise dos dados. A partir dos resultados, verificou-se que todos os tratamentos decorrentes das associações entre chocolate/morango e morango/leite condensado reduziram, nos dois tempos de exposição considerados, a divisão celular das raízes A. cepa, mostrando-se citotóxicos. Já os tratamentos provenientes da associação chocolate/leite condensado não alteraram de forma significativa os índices mitóticos das células do tecido em análise. Foi possível inferir que o aditivo de morango foi o mais citotóxico dos aditivos em estudo. Nenhuma das associações avaliadas foi genotóxica nestas condições de estudo.

Cytogenetic studies of chromium (III) oxide nanoparticles on Allium cepa root tip cells.

The current study evaluates the cytogenetic effects of chromium (III) oxide nanoparticles on the root cells of Allium cepa. The root tip cells of A. cepa were treated with the aqueous dispersions of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) at five different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100µg/mL) for 4hr. The colloidal stability of the nanoparticle suspensions during the exposure period were ascertained by particle size analyses. After 4hr exposure to Cr2O3 NPs, a significant decrease in mitotic index (MI) from 35.56% (Control) to 35.26% (0.01µg/mL), 34.64% (0.1µg/mL), 32.73% (1µg/mL), 29.6% (10µg/mL) and 20.92% (100µg/mL) was noted. The optical, fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses demonstrated specific chromosomal aberrations such as-chromosome stickiness, chromosome breaks, laggard chromosome, clumped chromosome, multipolar phases, nuclear notch, and nuclear bud at different exposure concentrations. The concentration-dependent internalization/bio-uptake of Cr2O3 NPs may have contributed to the enhanced production of anti oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase to counteract the oxidative stress, which in turn resulted in observed chromosomal aberrations and cytogenetic effects. These results suggest that A. cepa root tip assay can be successfully applied for evaluating environmental risk of Cr2O3 NPs over a wide range of concentrations.