In this study, the onion (Allium cepa) root test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of the Pitimbu River (Natal city, Brazil) surface water. The water was collected at five sampling sites along the river and one sample was obtained after the treatment (flocculation, chlorination and pH correction) of the river water for human consumption. All raw river water samples increased the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and/or micronuclei and two of the water samples produced alterations in the mitotic index of the root cells. Two of the water samples also altered root growth and two produced morphological modifications in the A. cepa roots. Water collected from a site near an industrial area was the most consistently toxic and genotoxic of the samples. Although the water chlorinated for human consumption was not genotoxic, the data indicate that surface water from the Pitimbu River contains toxic and genotoxic compounds that potentially may impact this aquatic ecosystem.

The concept of gene therapy involves the experimental transfer of a therapeutic gene into an individual's cells and tissues to replace an abnormal gene aiming to treat a disease, or to use the gene to treat a disease just like a medicine, improving the clinical status of a patient. The achievement of a foreigner nucleic acid into a population of cells requires its transfer to the target. Therefore, it is essential to create carriers (vectors) that transfer and protect the nucleic acid until it reaches the target. The obvious disadvantages of the use of viral vectors have directed the research for the development of a nonviral organized system such as emulsions. In fact, recently, there has been an increase of interest in its use in biotechnology as a nonviral vector for gene therapy. This review focuses on the progress of cationic emulsions and the improvement of the formulations, as a potential delivery system for gene therapy.

Cationic lipids have been used in the development of non-viral gene delivery systems as lipoplexes. Stearylamine, a cationic lipid that presents a primary amine group when in solution, is able to compact genetic material by electrostatic interactions. In dispersed systems such as nanoemulsions this lipid anchors on the oil/water interface confering a positive charge to them. The aim of this work was to evaluate factors that influence DNA compaction in cationic nanoemulsions containing stearylamine. The influence of the stearylamine incorporation phase (water or oil), time of complexation, and different incubation temperatures were studied. The complexation rate was assessed by electrophoresis migration on agarose gel 0.7%, and nanoemulsion and lipoplex characterization was done by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The results demonstrate that the best DNA compaction process occurs after 120 min of complexation, at low temperature (4 ± 1 °C), and after incorporation of the cationic lipid into the aqueous phase. Although the zeta potential of lipoplexes was lower than the results found for basic nanoemulsions, the granulometry did not change. Moreover, it was demonstrated that lipoplexes are suitable vehicles for gene delivery.

Several therapeutic properties have been described for Eugenia caryophyllata (clove). In the present study the infusion of E. caryophyllata was evaluated in a series of bacterial and cell-free assays in order to determine genotoxic potential. Negative results were obtained in the SOS chromotest and in the Salmonella reversion assay using strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA102. However, in a forward mutagenesis assay an increase in mutagenesis and high cytotoxicity was observed with the CC104 mutMmutY strain, suggesting that oxidative DNA damage occurred. The treatment of plasmid with clove infusion showed that DNA strand breaks and sites recognized by formamidopyrimidine-DNA-glycosylase (FPG/MutM) were generated. Data suggest that the occurrence of oxidative DNA damage, with low mutagenic potential, may also be involved in the cytotoxicity attributed to clove infusion.

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