Cytogenotoxicity evaluation of heavy metals detected in extracts and infusion of Baccharis trimera, potential bioaccumulator plant

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals (HMs) are natural components of the Earth’s crust that might originate from natural and anthropogenic sources. In excess quantities, the presence of these metals is harmful for both environment and human health. Taking this into account, various investigators examined bioaccumulator species in order to reduce environmental toxicity, among these Baccharis trimera. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the capacity of B. trimera to bioaccumulate HMs and assess consequent cytogenotoxicity following exposure. B. trimera vegetative parts were collected from two groups (1) control, in which plants were cultivated in soil exposed to distilled water, and (2) exposed, in which plants were cultivated in soil exposed to HMs including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and chromium (Cr). HMs were quantified in cultivation soil and extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) as well as infusion of B. trimera vegetative parts. Root lengths and cytogenotoxic effects were determined using Allium cepa test. Results demonstrated that all HMs studied were absorbed and bioaccumulated by B. trimera. Root lengths were decreased when exposed to ethanolic extract of B. trimera cultivated in soil exposed to HMs solution, which was the extract that exhibited the highest cytogenotoxicity values. Thus, data demonstrated that B. trimera might serve as a bioaccumulator for the reduction of environmental toxicity associated with the presence of certain HMs.

KEYWORDS:

• Allium cepa
• bioaccumulator
• cytogenotoxicity
• DNA damage
• heavy metals

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

RMGS contributed to design of the hypothesis and experiments, data interpretation, experiment supervision and manuscript preparation and review. VMOM contributed to experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation; FOG and CCMF contributed to statistical analysis, manuscript preparation and review; VHMS contributed to data collection and statistical analysis and manuscript preparation; LPM and LPS contributed to experimental design and data analysis. All authors were involved in manuscript reviewing

Additional information

Funding

The present study was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation Grant - FAPESP No. 2013/013310.