Comparative investigation of toxicity induced by UV-A and UV-C radiation using Allium test

Abstract

Organisms are increasingly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays of sunlight, due to the thinning of the ozone layer and its widespread use in sterilization processes, especially against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the damages of UV-A and UV-C radiations in Allium cepa L. roots. The effects of two different types of UV on some physiological, biochemical, cytogenotoxic, and anatomical parameters were investigated in a multifaceted study. Three groups were formed from Allium bulbs, one of which was the control group. One of the other groups was exposed to 254 nm (UV-C) and the other to 365 nm (UV-A) UV. Growth retardation effect of UV was investigated with respect to germination percentage, total weight gain, and root elongation, while cytogenotoxicity arisen from UV exposure was analyzed using mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) frequency. Oxidative stress due to UV application was investigated based on the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the total activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. Also, anatomical changes induced by UV-A and UV-C were analyzed in root meristematic cells. UV treatments caused significant reductions in growth-related parameters. Both UV treatments caused a significant increase in MDA levels and induction of SOD and CAT enzymes in root meristematic cells. A decrease in MI and an increase in the frequency of MN and CAs were observed in root tip cells, indicating the cytogenotoxic effect of UV application. Anatomical damages such as epidermis cell damage, cortex cell damage, necrotic zones, giant cell nucleus, and indistinct transmission tissue occurred in cells exposed to UV. All of the physiological, biochemical, cytogenetic, and anatomical damages observed in this study were more severe in cells treated with UV-C compared to UV-A. This study suggested that UV exposure triggered growth inhibition, cytogenotoxicity, oxidative stress, and meristematic cell damages in A. cepa roots depending on the wavelength.

Dose-dependent toxicity profile and genotoxicity mechanism of lithium carbonate

“…For enzyme activity measurements, enzyme extraction procedure was carried out at + 4 °C. SOD and CAT activities were measured using the method proposed by Çavuşoğlu et al 21 . SOD activity and CAT activities were shown as U/mg FW and OD 240nm min/g, respectively.…”

Synthesis and characterization of single‐walled carbon nanotube: Cyto‐genotoxicity in Allium cepa root tips and molecular docking studies

“…Increased chromosome contraction and condensation, as well as extrachromosomal intertwining of the chromatin fibers, inappropriate protein–protein interaction and partial breakdown of nucleoproteins or depolymerization of DNA may lead to chromosome adhesiveness (Figure 8c), probably leading to cell death (Kumari et al, 2011; Nefic et al, 2013; Radić et al, 2010; Sabeen et al, 2020). Anaphase bridges (Figure 8d) can occur as a result of chromosome or chromatid fusions, dicentric chromosomes, altered activity of replication enzyme, or stickiness indicating the clastogenic effect (Çavuşoğlu et al, 2022; Das et al, 2021). CAs were also induced by SWCNTs exposure in immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells and primary human respiratory epithelial cells due to disruption of the mitotic spindle by SWCNTs (Sargent et al 2009, 2012), on Swiss–Webster mice through activation of oxidative stress by functionalized SWCNTs (Patlolla et al, 2016), on the mouse macrophage cell line due to enhanced of ROS production (Di Giorgio et al, 2011) and on human lymphocytes (Catalán et al, 2012).…”

“…Allium test is the mostly preferred plant cytogenetic test systems for testing and analyzing the cyto‐genotoxicity of chemical agents that may cause environmental concerns due to their uncontrolled and indiscriminate release. The prominent advantages of this method are short application time, practicality and cost effectiveness, high reproducibility of results, large size to small number of chromosomes (2 n = 16) and high correlation with other bioassays (Çavuşoğlu et al, 2022; Kalefetoğlu Macar et al, 2021; Palácio et al, 2021). It has been also utilized successfully to investigate the genotoxicity of micro/nanomaterials as a biomarker (Fadoju et al, 2020; Liman et al, 2020; Liman et al, 2021; Rajeshwari et al, 2015).…”

Muttalip green clay and its ultraviolet and infrared absorption and reflection

“…Most UV-A radiation from the sun reaches Earth's surface. UV-A exposure causes cell damage in plants (Cavusoglu et al , 2022) and the skin (Radrezza et al , 2021); it also has negative impacts on the eyes (Sherin et al , 2021) and can cause melanoma (Wood et al , 2006; Barnes et al , 2019). However, when UV-A radiation from the sun reached the Muttalip green clay tiles, these tiles reflected the UV-A rays due to their surface properties.…”