Genotoxicity and apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to benzene, toluene and xylene: Attenuation by quercetin and curcumin

Journal Article · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.03.006· OSTI ID:21535298

Singh, Mahendra P ^[1]; Mishra, M; Sharma, A; Shukla, A K ^[1]; Mudiam, M K.R.; Patel, D K ^[2]; Ram, K Ravi ^[1]

---

1. Embryotoxicology Section, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR), Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh (India)
2. Analytical Chemistry Section, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh (India)

Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) such as benzene, toluene and xylene are being extensively used for various industrial and household purposes. Exposure to these hydrocarbons, occupationally or non-occupationally, is harmful to organisms including human. Several studies tested for toxicity of benzene, toluene and xylene, and interestingly, only a few studies looked into the attenuation. We used Drosophila model to test the genotoxic and apoptotic potential of these compounds and subsequently evaluated the efficiency of two phytochemicals, namely, quercetin and curcumin in attenuating test chemical induced toxicity. We exposed third instar larvae of wild type Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R{sup +}) to 1.0-100.0 mM benzene, toluene or xylene, individually, for 12, 24 and 48 h and examined their apoptotic and genotoxic potential. We observed significantly (P < 0.001) increased apoptotic markers and genotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in organisms exposed to benzene, toluene or xylene. We also observed significantly (P < 0.001) increased cytochrome P450 activity in larvae exposed to test chemicals and this was significantly reduced in the presence of 3',4'-dimethoxyflavone, a known Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) blocker. Interestingly, we observed a significant reduction in cytochrome P450 activity, GST levels, oxidative stress parameters, genotoxic and apoptotic endpoints when organisms were exposed simultaneously to test chemical along with quercetin or curcumin. The study further suggests the suitability of D. melanogaster as an alternate animal model for toxicological studies involving benzene, toluene and xylene and its potential in studying the protective role(s) of phytochemicals.

• OSTI ID: 21535298
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 253, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.03.006; PII: S0041-008X(11)00092-5; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
APOPTOSIS
BENZENE
CURCUMIN
DROSOPHILA
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LARVAE
QUERCETIN
RECEPTORS
TIME DEPENDENCE
TOLUENE
TOXICITY
XYLENES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
ARTHROPODS
DIPTERA
DYES
ETHERS
FLAVONES
FLAVONOIDS
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
KETONES
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
POPULATIONS
PROTEINS
PYRANS