Cytogenotoxic effect of ɑ-terpineol in meristem cells of Allium cepa L.

Abstract

Alpha-terpineol is a molecule used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer that has antioxidant, anticancer and antiulcer activities. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytogenotoxic effect of ɑ-terpineol in meristem cells of the Allium cepa. A. cepa roots were exposed to a negative control (1% of Tween 80), solvent (distilled water) and a positive control (methyl methanesulfonate, 10 µg/mL) and nominal concentrations of ɑ-terpineol (4.25; 8.5; 17; 34 and 68 μg/mL) for 48 and 72h. Toxic effects were evaluated by the average length of 30 roots. Cytogenotoxicity was assessed quantifying the mitotic index and chromosomal alterations in 5,000 A. cepa cells under optic microscopy (400x). The statistical analysis was conducted by the Tukey test (p < 0.05) to evaluate toxicity and the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test (p < 0.05) to assess cytogenotoxicity. Alpha-terpineol did not have toxic effects on the A. cepa for 48 and 72h, although it had cytotoxic effects at concentrations of 34 and 68 μg/mL for 48h and genotoxic effects at higher concentrations of 34 (72h) and 68 μg/mL (48h). Individual analysis of chromosomal alterations only showed a significant increase in micronuclei at 34 μg/mL over a 72h-exposure. Alpha-terpineol was not toxic. However, it had cytogenotoxic activity at higher concentrations, with potential environmental contamination and risks to human and animal health, since the compound is widely used in the industry.