Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

In the present study, the genotoxicity and probable risk associated with the three most important, priority pollutants o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium VI have been studied in Allium test focusing on their DNA damaging effect using comet assay. It was observed that there is a gradual decrease in root length with increased concentration of all the three pollutants tested. The EC50 value obtained are 8 ppm, 2.5 ppm, 14 ppm for o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) respectively. The genotoxicity test performed at concentration of EC50 as well as below and above EC50 values in Allium cepa revealed that there is gradual enhancement in % chromosomal aberration with concentrations. At concentration of 10 ppm of each o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) % chromosomal aberration are 51�±05, 72�±05, 59�±04 respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and relevance of the comet assay as a method for determination of DNA damage has been successfully established from the increased tail length movement observed with increasing concentration of o-cresol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and chromium (VI) compared to tap water as control. Among these three priority pollutant mediated DNA damage, TCP showed maximum damage at fixed concentration of 5 ppm. The present investigation revealed that biomonitoring of flora or fauna of ecosystem exposed to potential mutagens or carcinogens can provide an early detection system for the potential of pollutant which is responsible for initiation of DNA damage, leading to growth inhibition in Allium cepa indicating the need of proper effluent treatment process.

Biography

Dalia Dasgupta Mandal is an Associate Professor in Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India. She did her MSc in Biochemistry from BHU, Varanasi, MTech in Biotechnology from Jadavpur University, Kolkata and PhD in 2001 from Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her PhD thesis was entitled, “Host-parasite interaction studies specifically on signal transduction mediated alternative pathway to combat Leishmaniasis”. She is presently working on “Host-pollutant interaction with respect to cytotoxicity and DNA damaging effects of pollutants on plant, animal and bacterial system and to find out bioremediation strategies to combat these deadly pollutants hazardous effect on ecosystem”.

Email: dasguptadalia@yahoo.com