Genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of encapsulated Enhalus acoroides (L. f.) Royle leaves extract against nickel nitrate

Abstract

Several environmental pollutants can cause damage to chromosomes, one of which is the heavy metal NiNO3. Some plant extracts have antigenotoxic properties that resulted in a decrease in chromosomal damage. Member of flowering plants that need to be tested is seagrass. One seagrass species is Enhalus acoroides was found to contain phytochemical compounds. This study aimed to analysed the genotoxic effect and the potential of encapsulated E. acoroides leaf extract as antigenotoxic against nickel nitrate NiNO3. The extraction was conducted using a mixture of chloroform and ethanol and encapsulation of crude extract was done using maltodextrin and tween 80. Chromosomal aberrations were evaluated using the squash technique of Allium cepa var. aggregatum root tips. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans Blue staining were used to observe mitochondrial and apoptotic activities. The results showed that at higher concentrations the encapsulated E. acoroides extract showed a decrease of mitotic indices, however, there was no chromosome aberration observed. NiNO3 itself induced a genotoxic effect as observed by low mitotic index and a high percentage of chromosome aberration. The modulation of NiNO3 effect by the addition of the encapsulated E. acoroides extract at low concentration increase mitotic indicex but did not reduce chromosome aberration. Simultaneous Ni and encapsulated E. acoroides extract significantly reduce nuclear abnormalities such as nuclear fragmentation, nuclear lesion, and the formation of micronucleus suggesting the potential of the extract as antigenotoxic.

Keywords

• chromosome aberration
• Enhalus acoroides
• heavy metal
• nuclear abnormality
• seagrass