Allium cepa test: An evaluation of genotoxicity

Abstract

The importance of Allium cepa test contributes knowledge in preventing toxicity in the environment. This test widely used in determining genotoxic and cytotoxic substances found in the water system. In this study, the genotoxic effects of H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) and CH2O (Formalin) were determined using Allium cepa root tip cells while the water samples collected from the mining areas of Sorex Barobo, Surigao del Sur and Rosario, Agusan del Sur were also tested for genotoxicity. One-Way ANOVA shows that water samples treated with H2O2 were statistically significant (P less than 0.05) when compared to CH2O while the water sample collected from the mining areas shows statistically non-significant. A concentration-dependent increased were observed among the dividing cells and aberrant cells of the treated and collected water samples. The observed abnormalities were seen into its roots morphology indicating genotoxicity. Thus, the obtained results in this study show that Allium cepa test is useful as bio-indicator to detect genotoxicity.