Abstract Anthropogenic interventions have had a compromising effect on environmental health, intensifying the degradation of ecosystems, and the quantity of chemical pollutants released into nature. Therefore, research areas within the scope of environmental assessments and monitoring such as ecotoxicology have contributed to the determination of the toxic potential of contaminants. A small cyprinid known as the zebrafish (Danio rerio), the use of which has exponentially grown, is an alternative vertebrate model for scientific research, mainly in the assessment of environmental risks. The species exhibits several advantages for breeding in a laboratory, in addition to presenting multi-biomarkers of environmental toxicity. Thus, this review aims to present the main characteristics and advantages of working with this species, as well as show studies related to ecotoxicology involving biomarkers of toxicity in zebrafish. The results show a progressive trend towards employing the species in environmental risk analyses, it is an increasingly recommended species in the assessment of the toxicity level of a range of chemical pollutants. The development of future technologies must contribute to scientific advancement, rendering the potential application of this model organism an even more widespread one, which will certainly help in bridging knowledge gaps in various areas of study.

Abstract Brazilian green propolis is a resinous substance prepared by bees from parts of the plant Baccharis dracunculifolia. As it possess several biological properties, this work assessed the cytotoxic/anticytotoxic, genotoxic/antigenotoxic and mutagenic/antimutagenic potential of ethanolic extracts of Brazilian green propolis (EEGP) and of B. dracunculifolia (EEBD), by means of the Allium cepa test system. The effects were evaluated by assessing the chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronuclei (MN) frequencies on meristematic and F1 generation cells from onion roots. Chemical analyses performed with the extracts showed differences in flavonoid quality and quantity. No genotoxic or mutagenic potential was detected, and both extracts were capable of inhibiting cellular damage caused by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) treatment, reducing the frequencies of CA and MN. By these data, we can infer that, independent of their flavonoid content, the extracts presented a protective effect in A. cepa cells against the clastogenicity of MMS.

Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), popularly known as cotton-leaf physicnut, is a milky shrub notable for its medicinal properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the toxic, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the latex of J. gossypiifolia, using Allium cepa L. as test system. Seeds of A. cepa were exposed to five concentrations of the latex (1.25; 2.5; 5; 10 and 20 mL/L) in order to evaluate parameters of toxicity (evaluation of root growth), cytotoxicity (mitotic index frequency) and genotoxicity (frequency of chromosome alterations). The latex showed a significant decrease in root mean growth value as well as mitotic index for the tested concentrations, except for 1.25 mL/L, when compared to results from the negative control. The 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mL/L concentrations induced significant chromo-some adherences, C-metaphases and/or chromosome bridges, as genotoxic effects. The significant frequency of chromosome bridges also indicated mutagenic potential for chromosomes of J. gossypiifolia as discussed in the paper. Considering that the latex is used in popular therapies, and that the test system A. cepa presents good correlation with tests carried out in mammals, it can be pointed out that its use for medicinal purposes may be harmful to human health especially if ingested.

Las células cuentan con mecanismos complejos que vigilan la integridad del ADN, activando mecanismos de reparación cuando hay deficiencias o errores durante la replicación. Una consecuencia potencial de los daños son las alteraciones permanentes en la estructura del ADN que pueden generar mutaciones, transformación carcinogénica y muerte celular. Estos son atribuidos a diferentes agentes endógenos como los radicales libres de oxígeno (RLO) provenientes de la respiración, los cuales son considerados el centro de la carcinogénesis y el envejecimiento por daño genómico; agentes exógenos como la luz ultravioleta que inducen dímeros de pirimidina y la radiación ionizante que produce una gran variedad de daños sobre las bases, muchos de ellos por efecto indirecto. También se encuentran las genotoxinas presentes en los alimentos, humo de tabaco y agentes quimioterapéuticos, con grandes cualidades para alterar la estructura de la molécula ADN e interferir con su expresión. De esta manera, cerca de 10(5) lesiones espontáneas por día son inducidas en nuestros genes, en donde los mecanismos de reparación detectan daños y perturbaciones durante el crecimiento y división celular. Esto es posible gracias a las funciones específicas de reconocimiento, corrección o eliminación de daños que asegura la integridad del genoma. En este artículo se presentan los principales mecanismos de reparación del ADN, su relación y activación de acuerdo al tipo de daño.

Cells have complex mechanisms that monitor DNA integrity that activate repair mechanisms when there are deficiencies or errors during replication. A potential result of the damage is a permanent alteration in DNA structure that can generate mutations, carcinogenic transformation and cell death. These are attributed to different endogenous agents such as oxygen free radicals (OFR) from respiration, which are considered the center of carcinogenesis and aging process due to genomic damage; exogenous agents, such as ultraviolet light, induce pyrimidine dimers and ionizing radiation that produce a variety of damage on the bases, many by indirect effect. Genotoxins present in food, tobacco and chemotherapeutic agents are also found with high potential in altering the DNA molecule structure and interfering with its expression. Thus, around 10(5) spontaneous lesions are induced per day in our genes, where the repair mechanisms can detect damages and disturbances during cell growth and division. This is possible thanks to the specific recognition, correction or elimination of damage functions, ensuring the integrity of the genome. In this article the main mechanisms of DNA repair, as well as their relationship and activation according to the type of damage, are presented.

Neste estudo, foram preparados, pelo método de intercalação do fundido, nanocompósitos de PLA com as argilas organofílicas Cloisite 20A e Cloisite 30B. A influência das argilas no processo de biodegradação do PLA foi avaliada com base no método de respirometria. A incorporação da argila Cloisite 20A praticamente não alterou a curva de mineralização do PLA. O nanocompósito com Cloisite 30B, por sua vez, apresentou um comportamento distinto, indicando um atraso no processo de biodegradação do polímero neste material. As amostras foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de Difração de Raios X, Análise Termogravimétrica e Calorimetria Diferencial Exploratória. A caracterização dos materiais indicou uma estrutura possivelmente intercalada dos nanocompósitos, bem como a redução da estabilidade térmica e um pequeno aumento no grau de cristalinidade, em relação ao polímero puro.

In this study nanocomposites of PLA and organoclays Cloisite 20A and Cloisite 30B were prepared by melt intercalation. The influence from the organoclays on the biodegradation of PLA was evaluated based on the respirometry method. The incorporation of clay Cloisite 20A did not change the mineralization curve of PLA. The nanocomposite with Cloisite 30B, on the other hand, presented a different behavior, indicating a delay in the polymer biodegradation. The materials were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The materials characterization indicated nanocomposites with an intercalated structure as well as reduced thermal stability and a slight increase in the degree of crystallinity compared to the pure polymer.

An aqueous extract of Rhizophora mangle L. bark is used as raw material in pottery making in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. This extract presents large quantities of tannins, compounds possessing antioxidant properties. Tannin antioxidant activity, as a plant chemical defense mechanism in the process of stabilizing free radicals, has been an incentive to studies on anti-mutagenicity. The present work aimed to evaluate possible antimutagenic activity of a R. mangle aqueous extract, using the Allium cepa test-system and micronuclear (MN) assay with blockage of cytokinesis in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1). The Allium cepa test-system indicated antimutagenic activity against the damage induced by the mutagenic agent methyl methanesulfonate. A reduction in both MN cell frequency and chromosome breaks occurred in both the pre and post-treatment protocols. The MN testing of CHO-K1 cells revealed anti-mutagenic activity of the R. mangle extract against methyl methanesulfonate and doxorubicin in pre, simultaneous and post-treatment protocols. These results suggest the presence of phyto-constituents in the extract presenting demutagenic and bio-antimutagenic activities. Since the chemical constitution of Rhizophora mangle species presents elevated tannin content, it is highly probable that these compounds are the antimutagenic promoters themselves.

Cytotoxicity of metals is important because some metals are potential mutagens able to induce tumors in humans and experimental animals. Chromium can damage DNA in several ways, including DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) which generate chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus formation, sister chromatid exchange, formation of DNA adducts and alterations in DNA replication and transcription. In our study, water samples from three sites in the Córrego dos Bagres stream in the Franca municipality of the Brazilian state of São Paulo were subjected to the comet assay and micronucleus test using erythrocytes from the fish Oreochromis niloticus. Nuclear abnormalities of the erythrocytes included blebbed, notched and lobed nuclei, probably due to genotoxic chromium compounds. The greatest comet assay damage occurred with water from a chromium-containing tannery effluent discharge site, supporting the hypothesis that chromium residues can be genotoxic. The mutagenicity of the water samples was assessed using the onion root-tip cell assay, the most frequent chromosomal abnormalities observed being: c-metaphases, stick chromosome, chromosome breaks and losses, bridged anaphases, multipolar anaphases, and micronucleated and binucleated cells. Onion root-tip cell mutagenicity was highest for water samples containing the highest levels of chromium.