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Evaluation of genotoxicity and oxidative stress of aluminium oxide nanoparticles and its bulk form in Allium cepa

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Abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) and bulk aluminium oxide (Al2O3) on Allium cepa in terms of genotoxicity and oxidative stress responses under in planta conditions. The concentrations ranged from 1.25 to 5 µM for NP and its bulk form. Results from this investigation indicated steady rise in chromosome aberrations, micronuclei and DNA strand breaks with increase in concentration of the NPs, effects of Al2O3 NPs being significantly higher than those treated with bulk Al2O3. The divisional frequency was affected by the NP treatment. Oxidative damage such as lipid peroxidation and cell death to Allium under Al2O3 NPs treatments was greater than that observed in bulk Al2O3. A significant increase in activity of guiacol peroxidase was observed in accordance with the depletion in catalase activity in both Al2O3 NPs and bulk Al2O3 treated plants as compared to control. In conclusion, the present study indicated that Al2O3 NPs treatment exerted higher genotoxicity and oxidative stress responses on A. cepa than bulk Al2O3 under in planta conditions.

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Abbreviations

Al2O3 NPs:

Aluminium oxide nanoparticles

CA:

Chromosome aberrations

MN:

Micro nucleus

MI:

Mitotic index

GPOD:

Guiacol peroxidise

CAT:

Catalase

IPCS, WHO:

International Programme on Chemical Safety, World Health Organisation

UNEP:

United Nations Environment Programme

TTC:

2, 3, 5-Triphenyl-2H- tetrazolium chloride

NaOH:

Sodium hydroxide

NMPA:

Normal melting point agarose

LMPA:

Low melting point agarose

EDTA:

Di-sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid

EtBr:

Ethidium bromide

DLS:

Dynamic light scattering

ZP:

Zeta potential

PDI:

Poly dispersity index

LPO:

Lipid peroxidation

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SD:

Standard deviation

ANOVA:

One-way analysis of variance

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the University Grant Commission for financial assistance [UGC-MRP (41-1116/2012[SR] dt.01.07.2012] and thank the reviewers for their valuable suggestion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Cell Biology and Genetic Toxicology Lab, Centre of Advance Studies, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India

    Arpita De, Manoswini Chakrabarti, Ilika Ghosh & Anita Mukherjee

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  1. Arpita De
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  2. Manoswini Chakrabarti
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  3. Ilika Ghosh
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Correspondence to Anita Mukherjee.

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De, A., Chakrabarti, M., Ghosh, I. et al. Evaluation of genotoxicity and oxidative stress of aluminium oxide nanoparticles and its bulk form in Allium cepa . Nucleus 59, 219–225 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-016-0179-y

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