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The overconsumption of added sugars makes people vulnerable to a myriad of diseases. Several biochemical and developmental assays were performed in the current study to assess the effect of fructose on Drosophila melanogaster and to find substitutes for fructose by comparing it to well-known sweeteners. Drosophila was exposed separately to the same ratio of sugar 9.21% (w/v) of several types of sweeteners (sucrose, fructose, glucose syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and stevia). Results revealed that fructose might induce recombination, whereas stevia lacks genotoxic potential. No developmental delay, growth defects, or neurotoxic effects were recorded for any of the sweeteners. We also observed no striking differences in reactive oxygen species levels. Thus, stevia seems to be an alternative sweetener to fructose that can be consumed to reduce fructose-induced anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three different sites in the E§en Stream (namely, Site 1 that was used as the control group, Site 2 that had the highest pollution degree, and Site 3), were assayed for genotoxicity induced by nutrient pollution using the Comet assay in the peripheral blood of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). At each site, blood was taken from six samples to investigate the potential damage in fish blood lymphocytes with Comet assay. The results revealed that both DNA tail % and tail moment (pm) significantly increased in Site 2 and Site 3 compared to Site 1. Site 2 had the highest level of water parameters (such as suspended solids, total phosphates, ammonium and nitrate-nitrogen, and chemical oxygen demand) and showed the highest genotoxic damage for both DNA tail % and tail moment. Oxidative DNA damage was also investigated with bacterial enzymes, namely, Endo III and FPG. According to the results, oxidative damage was higher in purines than pyrimidines for the studied sites. These results confirm the usefulness of the Comet assay with fish blood lymphocytes as an in vivo model for eco-genotoxicological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanogenotoxicity is an emergent field, relevant for estimating the potential genotoxic risk of nanomaterials. In this study we investigated the genotoxic potential of zinc oxide (ZnO, ≤ 35 and 50 nm) and titanium dioxide (TiO2, 21 and 50 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) in the nuclei of Allium cepa root meristem cells by using a modified alkaline comet assay. ZnO and TiO2 NPs were supplied to cells treated in vitro at 3 different concentrations (10, 100, and 1000 µg/mL). For the comet assay, our results indicate a dose-dependent increment in DNA damage in cells exposed to 100 and 1000 µg/mL of ZnO NPs (≥ 35 and 50 nm) for percentage of DNA tail (% DNA tail). On the other hand, the results from TiO2 NPs indicated that the DNA damage in the cells exposed to only the highest concentration (1000 µg/mL) of TiO2 NPs (21 nm) is statistically significant in comparison to the control cells, while all concentrations of TiO2 NPs (50 nm) are stat [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first application of an in vivo alkaline comet assay using haemocytes in the haemolymph of Drosophila melanogaster larvae for the genotoxic evaluation of benzyl derivatives. Haemocytes are playing a function similar to mammalian blood. In this study, different concentrations (5, 10, 25 and 50 mM) of benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, benzaldehyde and benzoic acid used as flavour ingredients were investigated for genotoxicity as in vivo. Haemolymph was extracted from the larvae, and haemocytes were isolated by centrifugation and used in the comet assay. In the comet assay with haemocytes for benzyl derivatives observed significantly and dose-dependently induced DNA damage formation. The highest concentration of each tested benzyl derivative was signifi- cantly induced DNA damage. Their genotoxic potencies according to the induced % DNA tail in the highest con- centration are as follows: benzyl acetate (35.51 ± 0.31), benzyl alcohol (34.87 ± 2.01), benzaldehyde (33.27 ± 0.95) and benzoic acid (28.21 ± 0.31). These results confirm the benefit of the comet assay with haemocytes as an in vivo model and support the possibility that there is a genotoxic risk associated with benzyl derivatives exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naturally-derived insecticide Spinosad has been used to control thrips in Capsicum annuum L. Our aim was to determine the possible genotoxic effect of Spinosad in leaves C. annuum L. For this purpose, we used the Comet assay to investigate DNA damage in isolated cells from leaves of C. annuum L. in order to assess the potential hazards of Spinosad. For the evaluation of genotoxic effects, the % tail DNA (tail intensity) and the tail moment in the treated Spinosad were compared to the solvent control (distilled water). The alkaline Comet assay showed that both tail intensity and tail moment significantly increased at 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ppm concentrations of Spinosad, meaning that Spinosad probably has apoptotic effects at a concentration of 10 ppm and higher. These results can contribute to increase the genotoxicity database on Spinosad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Genotoxicity of ZnO NPs has been shown in mammalian cells. [•] ZnO NPs has been able to induce cell transformation. [•] An antagonist interaction between ZnO NPs and UVB-light has been demonstrated. [•] Genotoxic/carcinogenic effects differ between ZnO NPs and the ionic forms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, different concentrations of four benzyl derivatives (benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, benzoic acid and benzaldehyde) used as flavour ingredients were investigated for genotoxicity in in vitro. By taking blood from two healthy people comet assay was carried on to investigate the potential health damages of benzyl derivatives. For the evaluation of genotoxic effects, the tail moment and % tail DNA in the treated chemicals were compared to the solvent control, which is distilled water. The alkaline comet assay showed significantly increased tail moment and % tail DNA at 25 and 50mM concentrations of benzyl alcohol. Benzyl acetate increased both % tail DNA and tail moment at 50mM concentrations. While % tail DNA was statistically increased at 10mM and higher concentrations, tail moment has significant difference at 10 and 25mM concentrations of benzaldehyde. Benzoic acid has apoptotic effects at the concentrations higher than 5mM, for this reason we tested concentrations less than 5mM (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5mM). Only the highest concentration of benzoic acid increased both tail moment and % tail DNA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The in vitro genotoxic and the soft-agar anchorage independent cell transformation ability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO 2 ) and its microparticulated form has been evaluated in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and in mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cells. Nano-TiO 2 of two different sizes (21 and 50 nm) were used in this study. The comet assay, with and without the use of FPG enzyme, the micronucleus assay and the soft-agar colony assay were used. For both the comet assay and the frequency of micronuclei a statistically significant induction of DNA damage, was observed at the highest dose tested (1000 µg/mL). No oxidative DNA damage induction was observed when the comet assay was complemented with the use of FPG enzyme. Furthermore, long-term exposure to nano-TiO 2 has also proved to induce cell-transformation promoting cell-anchorage independent growth in soft-agar. Results were similar for the two nano-TiO 2 sizes. Negative results were obtained when the microparticulated form of TiO 2 was tested, indicating the existence of important differences between the microparticulated and nanoparticulated forms. As a conclusion it should be indicated that the observed genotoxic/tranforming effects were only detected at the higher dose tested (1000 µg/mL) what play down the real risk of environmental exposures to this nanomaterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]