Experiments employing growing root cells of Allium cepa were conducted with a view to elucidate the role of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in aluminium (Al)-induced DNA damage, cell death and adaptive response to genotoxic challenge imposed by ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) or methyl mercuric chloride (MMCl). In a first set of experiments, root cells in planta were treated with Al at high concentrations (200–800 μM) for 3 h without or with pre-treatments of dihydroxybenzene disulphonic acid (Tiron) and dimethylthiourea (DMTU) for 2 h that trap O₂^·−and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), respectively. At the end of treatments, generation of O₂^·− and H₂O₂, cell death and DNA damage were determined. In a second set of experiments, root cells in planta were conditioned by Al at low concentrations (5 or 10 μM) for 2 h and after a 2 h intertreatment interval challenged by MMCl or EMS for 3 h without or with a pre-treatment of Tiron or DMTU. Conditioning treatments, in addition, included two oxidative agents viz rose bengal and H₂O₂ for comparison. Following treatments, root cells in planta were allowed to recover in tap water. Genotoxicity and DNA damage were evaluated by micronucleus (MN), chromosome aberration (CA) or spindle aberration (SA) and comet assays at different hours (0–30 h) of recovery. The results demonstrated that whereas Al at high concentrations induced DNA damage and cell death, in low concentrations induced adaptive response conferring genomic protection from genotoxic challenge imposed by MMCl, EMS and Al. Pre-treatments of Tiron and DMTU prevented Al-induced DNA damage, cell death, as well as genotoxic adaptation to MMCl and EMS, significantly. The findings underscored the biphasic (hormetic) mode of action of Al that at high doses induced DNA damage and at low non-toxic doses conferred genomic protection, both of which were mediated through ROI but perhaps involving different networks.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP-GS) were synthesised from the precursor zinc acetate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂) through the green route using the milky latex from milk weed (Calotropis gigantea L. R. Br) by alkaline precipitation. Formation of the ZnONP-GS was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy followed by characterization and confirmation by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both the ZnONP-GS and the commercially available ZnONP-S (Sigma-Aldrich) and cationic Zn²⁺ from Zn(CH₃COO)₂ were tested in a dose range of 0–100 mg·L⁻¹ for their potency (i) to induce oxidative stress as measured by the generation reactive oxygen species (ROS: O₂^•−, H₂O₂ and ^•OH), cell death, and lipid peroxidation; (ii) to modulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX); and (iii) to cause DNA damage as determined by Comet assay in Lathyrus sativus L. root bioassay system. Antioxidants such as Tiron and dimethylthiourea significantly attenuated the ZnONP-induced oxidative and DNA damage, suggesting the involvement of ROS therein. Our study demonstrated that both ZnONP-GS and ZnONP-S induced oxidative stress and DNA damage to a similar extent but were significantly less potent than Zn²⁺ alone.

In the current study, we studied the role of signal transduction in aluminum (Al3+)-induced DNA damage and adaptive response in root cells of Allium cepa L. The root cells in planta were treated with Al3+ (800µM) for 3 h without or with 2 h pre-treatment of inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase and protein phosphatase. Also, root cells in planta were conditioned with Al3+ (10 µM) for 2 h and then subjected to genotoxic challenge of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS; 5 mM) for 3 h without or with the pre-treatment of the aforementioned inhibitors as well as the inhibitors of translation, transcription, DNA replication and repair. At the end of treatments, roots cells were assayed for cell death and/or DNA damage. The results revealed that Al3+ (800 µM) induced significant DNA damage and cell death. On the other hand, conditioning with low dose of Al3+ induced adaptive response conferring protection of root cells from genotoxic stress caused by EMS-challenge. Pre-treatment of roots cells with the chosen inhibitors prior to Al3+-conditioning prevented or reduced the adaptive response to EMS-genotoxicity. The results of this study suggested the involvement of MAPK and DNA repair network underlying Al-induced DNA damage and adaptive response to genotoxic stress in root cells of A. cepa.