Objective To determine the DNA damaging potential and the genotoxicity of individual compounds in pesticide contaminated soil. Methods In the present study, DNA damaging potential of pesticide-contaminated soil and the genotoxicity of individual compounds present in the soil were assessed using fluorimetric analysis of DNA unwinding assay. Results The contaminated soil sample showed 79% (P＜0.001) of DNA strand break, whereas technical grade of major carbaryl and α-naphthol constituents of the contaminated soil showed 64% (P＜0.01) and 60% (P＜0.02) damage respectively. Conclusion Our results indicate that the toxicity caused by contaminated soil is mainly due to carbaryl and α -napthol, which are the major constituents of the soil sample analyzed by GC-MS.

Objective To investigate the impact of various levels of sublethal temperature (26℃, 31℃, 33℃, 36℃, and 39℃) on growth and heat shock protein (hsp) expression in freshwater green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. Methods Impact of selected levels of temperature on growth rate (based on optical density), population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass of the alga was evaluated in artificial growth medium for 19 days. To determine the induction of hsp in the alga, it was exposed to selected temperature levels for 3 h and further kept for 6 h at culturing condition at 26℃. Induction of hsp was confirmed by immuno-detection followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results The selected growth parameters such as growth rate, population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass were reduced significantly (P＜0.001) at 39℃. However, hsp 70expression was observed only at 39℃. Conclusion Temperature up to 36℃ may be considered as the limit of safe exposure for thermal stress for the alga Scenedesmus quadricauda.

OBJECTIVETo study the anticlastogenic effect of redistilled cow's urine distillate (RCUD) in human peripheral lymphocytes (HLC) challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium.

METHODSThe anticlastogenic activity of redistilled cow's urine distillate was studied in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (HPNLs) and human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium as established genotoxicants and clastogens which could cause induction of DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus. Three different levels of RCUD: 1 microL/mL, 50 microL/mL and 100 microL/mL, were used in the study.

RESULTSManganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium caused statistically significant DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation, which could be protected by redistilled cow's urine distillate.

CONCLUSIONThe redistilled cow's urine distillate posseses strong antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic properties against HPNLs and HLC treated with Cr+6 and MnO2. This property is mainly due to the antioxidants present in RCUD.

Animals ; Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; urine ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromium ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Manganese Compounds ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Oxides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the modulatory effect of distillate of Ocimum sanctum (traditionally known as Tulsi) leaf extract (DTLE) on genotoxicants.

METHODSIn the present investigation, we studied the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effect of distillate of Tulsi leaf extract on (i) human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by evaluating the DNA strand break without metabolic activation against mitomycin C (MMC) and hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) and (ii) human peripheral lymphocytes (in vitro) with or without metabolic activation against mitomycin C (MMC), hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) and B[a]P by evaluating chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus assay (MN). Three different doses of DTLE, 50 microL/mL, 100 microL/mL, and 200 microL/mL were selected on the basis of cytotoxicity assay and used for studying DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus emergence. The following positive controls were used for inducing genotoxicity and clastogenicity: MMC (0.29 micromol/L) for DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and 0.51 micromol/L for micronucleus assay; Potassium dichromate (Cr+6) 600 micromol/L for DNA strand break and 5 micromol/L for chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assay; Benzo[a]pyrene (30 micromol/L) for chromosomal aberration and 40 micromol/L for micronucleus assay. The active ingredients present in the distillate of Tulsi leaf extract were identified by HPLC and LC-MS.

RESULTSMitomycin C (MMC) and hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) induced statistically significant DNA strand break of respectively 69% and 71% (P<0.001) as revealed by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding. Furthermore, the damage could be protected with DTLE (50 microL/mL, 100 microL/mL, and 200 microL/mL) on simultaneous treatment. Chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation induced by MMC, Cr+6 and B[a]P were significantly protected (P<0.001) by DTLE with and without metabolic activation.

CONCLUSIONDistillate of Tulsi leaf extract possesses antioxidants contributed mainly by eugenol, luteolin and apigenin as identified by LC-MS. These active ingredients may have the protective effect against genotoxicants.

Adult ; Benzopyrenes ; toxicity ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromium ; toxicity ; Chromosome Aberrations ; drug effects ; DNA ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mitomycin ; toxicity ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Ocimum ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry