{"title":"Allium cepa tests: A plant-based tool for the early evaluation of toxicity and genotoxicity of newly synthetized antifungal molecules","authors":"Carlotta Alias , Donatella Feretti , Gaia V.C. Viola , Ilaria Zerbini , Franco Bisceglie , Giorgio Pelosi , Claudia Zani","doi":"10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503654","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Many fungal genera such as <em>Aspergillus</em>, <em>Penicillium</em>, <em>Fusarium</em> and <em>Alternaria</em> are able to produce, among many other metabolites, the aflatoxins, a group of toxic and carcinogenic compounds. To reduce their formation, synthetic fungicides are used as an effective way of intervention. However, the extensive use of such molecules generates long-term residues into the food and the environment. The need of new antifungal molecules, with high specificity and low off-target toxicity is worth. The aim of this study was to evaluate: i) the toxicity and genotoxicity of newly synthesized molecules with a good anti-mycotoxic activity, and ii) the suitability of the <em>Allium cepa</em> multi-endpoint assay as an early screening method for chemicals. Eight compounds were tested for toxicity by using the <em>A. cepa</em> bulb root elongation test and for genotoxicity using the <em>A. cepa</em> bulb mitotic index, micronuclei and chromosome aberrations tests. Three molecules showed no toxicity, while two induced mild toxic effects in roots exposed to the highest dose (100 µM). A more pronounced toxic effect was caused by the other three compounds for which the EC50 was approximately 50 μM. Furthermore, all molecules showed a clear genotoxic activity, both in terms of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei. Albeit the known good antifungal activity, the different molecules caused strong toxic and genotoxic effects. The results indicate the suitability of experiments with <em>A. cepa</em> as a research model for the evaluation of the toxic and genotoxic activities of new molecules in plants before they are released into the environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":18799,"journal":{"name":"Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383571823000724","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Many fungal genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria are able to produce, among many other metabolites, the aflatoxins, a group of toxic and carcinogenic compounds. To reduce their formation, synthetic fungicides are used as an effective way of intervention. However, the extensive use of such molecules generates long-term residues into the food and the environment. The need of new antifungal molecules, with high specificity and low off-target toxicity is worth. The aim of this study was to evaluate: i) the toxicity and genotoxicity of newly synthesized molecules with a good anti-mycotoxic activity, and ii) the suitability of the Allium cepa multi-endpoint assay as an early screening method for chemicals. Eight compounds were tested for toxicity by using the A. cepa bulb root elongation test and for genotoxicity using the A. cepa bulb mitotic index, micronuclei and chromosome aberrations tests. Three molecules showed no toxicity, while two induced mild toxic effects in roots exposed to the highest dose (100 µM). A more pronounced toxic effect was caused by the other three compounds for which the EC50 was approximately 50 μM. Furthermore, all molecules showed a clear genotoxic activity, both in terms of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei. Albeit the known good antifungal activity, the different molecules caused strong toxic and genotoxic effects. The results indicate the suitability of experiments with A. cepa as a research model for the evaluation of the toxic and genotoxic activities of new molecules in plants before they are released into the environment.
期刊介绍:
Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis (MRGTEM) publishes papers advancing knowledge in the field of genetic toxicology. Papers are welcomed in the following areas:
New developments in genotoxicity testing of chemical agents (e.g. improvements in methodology of assay systems and interpretation of results).
Alternatives to and refinement of the use of animals in genotoxicity testing.
Nano-genotoxicology, the study of genotoxicity hazards and risks related to novel man-made nanomaterials.
Studies of epigenetic changes in relation to genotoxic effects.
The use of structure-activity relationships in predicting genotoxic effects.
The isolation and chemical characterization of novel environmental mutagens.
The measurement of genotoxic effects in human populations, when accompanied by quantitative measurements of environmental or occupational exposures.
The application of novel technologies for assessing the hazard and risks associated with genotoxic substances (e.g. OMICS or other high-throughput approaches to genotoxicity testing).
MRGTEM is now accepting submissions for a new section of the journal: Current Topics in Genotoxicity Testing, that will be dedicated to the discussion of current issues relating to design, interpretation and strategic use of genotoxicity tests. This section is envisaged to include discussions relating to the development of new international testing guidelines, but also to wider topics in the field. The evaluation of contrasting or opposing viewpoints is welcomed as long as the presentation is in accordance with the journal''s aims, scope, and policies.