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The biotransformation of compounds is a critical point in understanding their toxic effects in both toxicology and ecotoxicology. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference in the phytogenotoxic potential of the commercial fungicide Nativo® between non-biotransformed samples and samples biotransformed by swine liver enzymes. The fungicide Nativo is a mixture of Tebuconazole (TEB; 200 g L -1 ) and Trifloxystrobin (TRI; 100 g L -1 ). The test organism used in this study was Allium cepa, and the mitotic index (MI), chromosomic aberrations, and micronucleus frequency in A. cepa cells were compared between samples of non-biotransformed Nativo and biotransformed Nativo. The results showed that the Nativo biotransformated products were less genotoxic than the non-biotransformed Nativo, with the no-observed effect concentration (NOEC) values for micronuclei formation being four times lower after swine enzymes biotransformation, while MI was not altered. The no observed effect concentration values for micronuclei formation by the fungicide mixture were 7.8 and 3.9 mg L -1 for TEB and TRI, respectively, for the biotransformed samples, and 1.9 and 1.0 mg L -1 for the non-biotransformed samples, demonstrating that swine liver enzyme activity decreased genotoxicity. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the importance of considering biotransformation in phytogenotoxicity studies, as this process can significantly alter phytogenotoxic effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The rupture of Vale S.A. mining tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil, in January 2019 had significant environmental impacts on the Paraopeba River basin. Additionally, severe floods in early 2022 contributed to the transport of particles in the river. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of Paraopeba River water. Thus, the Allium cepa test system was applied, along with physicochemical analyses, flow cytometry, and metal concentration, comparing the results between the rainy and dry seasons three years after the dam rupture. The tests were conducted on water samples collected during three periods: January 2022, July 2022, and January 2023, at five points along the river and its tributaries. Allium cepa seeds were exposed to the collected water samples, as well as negative (water) and positive (trifluralin) controls. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the mitotic index and flow cytometry, and genotoxicity by the chromosomal alterations index. The analysis of metals and physicochemical parameters revealed that most values complied with current regulations. However, there were exceptions, with ammonia levels exceeding the permitted limits at all points in the three collections. High levels of aluminum, iron and nitrite were found at most points, before and after the dam collapse, mainly during the rainy season. This indicates the impact of rainfall on water quality, which increases the transport of contaminating particles, probably resulting from human activities and the high concentration of nitrogen compounds released into the Paraopeba River. The results of the bioassay suggest a relatively low cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the samples evaluated. However, this study highlights the continuous contamination of the river by unidentified anthropogenic factors, requiring continuous monitoring and analysis to track the evolution of water quality and its environmental effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The study aimed to evaluate superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONS) as nanofertilizers to enrich Allium cepa vegetable productivity. The nanofertilizer was synthesized using iron salts and a weak base. Characterization via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and magnetometry confirmed Fe 3 O 4 -based nanomaterial formation. Germination assays were conducted in Petri dishes, each containing 50 seeds, with four groups tested: deionized water (G1), Fe 2+ solution (G2), Fe 3+ solution (G3), and SPION suspension (G4). Germination rates were 70 % for G1, 62 % for G4, 58 % for G2, and 44 % for G3. Root growth analysis demonstrated superior development in G4, indicating stimulation. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) determined higher Fe absorption in Allium cepa enriched with nanoparticles compared to non-enriched vegetables. Thus, it is concluded that the nanoparticle exhibits promising effects as nanofertilizer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current study describes the biological synthesis of manganese oxide nanoparticles from Bacillus thuringiensis, as well as their characterization, biological activity, and toxicity. Nanoparticles may be synthesized in multiple ways, but the biogenic process is the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The optical, structural, and crystalline properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. A distinctive peak at 246 nm with a band gap of 3.7eV indicates manganese oxide nanoparticle production. A strong peak at 563.09 cm -1 indicates Mn-O stretching in Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. X-ray diffraction revealed that the crystalline grain size of manganese oxide nanoparticles was 11.23 nm. The agglomerated spherical shape is seen in the Scanning Electron Microscope and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope investigations. The presence of manganese was verified by the EDAX. Manganese oxide nanoparticles have a significant zeta potential peak of -23.4 mV. This work explored the biological activity of manganese oxide nanoparticles, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and biofilm inhibition studies. To investigate cytotoxicity, Allium cepa root tips are treated with manganese oxide nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Onion and garlic are economically important vegetable crops cultivated worldwide. Numerous pests and diseases affect the quality and yield of these crops. In addition to diseases and pests, several physiological disorders affect onion and garlic. The physiological disorders are abnormalities caused by intercultural operations, nutrient management, environmental factors, genetic regulation, etc. These physiological disorders significantly affect the yield and quality of onion and garlic, leading to monetary losses to the farmers. The following physiological disorders are commonly reported in onion: premature bolting, sprouting in storage, watery scale, doubling/twins, basal plate split, and thick neck. Premature sprouting and rubberization are the main physiological anomalies observed in garlic. The present review described the symptoms of these physiological abnormalities, the factors responsible, and ways to avoid or minimise the occurrence of these abnormalities to subsequently reduce the losses of the growers. Further, we also performed bibliometric analysis using the SCOPUS database. This is the first review that describes the progress of research on physiological disorders in onion and garlic in detail, which will positively increase awareness about such important aspects of onion and garlic. Further, it will provide insight to researchers for developing innovative strategies, cultural practices, and varieties to control these physiological abnormalities of onion and garlic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Kale, Khandagale, Ramadas, Gavhane, Gedam and Mahajan.)

Onion ( Allium cepa L.) is an important seasoning vegetable worldwide. It belongs to the Allium genus, which produces distinctive flavor compounds, allicin/isoallicin. It has been known that allicin/isoallicin is produced upon cell damage by vacuole-localized alliinase releasing. Pungent isoallicin and lachrymaroty factor (LF) are unique features of onions. To understand the isoallicin system of onions, we identified and characterized the biosynthesis-related genes by displaying transcriptional profiles and analyzing the isoallicin contents of onion plants. The DHW30006 onion genome encoded 64 alliinase (ALL) and 29 LF synthase (LFS) proteins, which are the key enzymes for producing of isoallicin and LF. Interestingly, when we analyzed the N-terminal signal peptide sequences (SP) necessary for transport to the vacuole, we found that 14 ALLs contained the SP (SP-ALL) and 50 ALLs did not (non-SP-ALL). We hypothesized that non-SP-ALLs stayed in the cytosol of onion cells, reacted with isoalliin, and generated isoallicin without cell damage. Our transcriptome and LC-MS/MS analyses reveal that isoallicin levels vary significantly across onion tissues and growth stages, with substantial production occurring in intact cells through cytosolic alliinases and an increase through vacuolar alliinases upon tissue disruption. This novel observation suggests that the isoallicin system in onions functions as a dual-defense mechanism: cytosolic alliinases maintain a constant level of defense against biotic stress in undamaged tissues, while vacuolar alliinases enhance isoallicin production in response to tissue damage by herbivory and insects. Together, these coordinated mechanisms demonstrate an adaptable and dynamic defense strategy against biotic stresses in Allium plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cho, Park, Kim, Han, Natesan, Choi, Lee, Kim, Cho and Ahn.)

Arsenic is known to have detrimental effects on living bodies when exposed to contaminated groundwater. Therefore, a cost-effective way to eliminate arsenic from aquatic sources is essential. Our study evaluated the efficacy of eight different types of easily accessible agricultural wastes for arsenic removal. The safety assessment of the post-adsorbed solution in plant and animal test models such as Allium cepa and Daphnia magna was also evaluated. The results showed that the efficiency of the adsorbents depends on the type of agricultural waste utilized. In the case of citrus agrowastes, maximum biosorption (94-95%) was attained at the lowest 15 min contact time, indicating very rapid saturation of adsorption sites for other adsorbents; with an increase of contact time, there was a gradual increase in biosorption of arsenic. Allium cepa toxicity test showed that arsenic exposure caused a significant decrease in root length (2.80 ± 0.89 cm) and a reduction in mitotic index (6.31 ± 1.79%) that can be reverted to normal after the roots were grown in a post-adsorbed medium. Similarly, solutions treated with different agricultural wastes except citrus biosorbents showed significantly higher survival rates and litter sizes of Daphnia magna post biosorption. Agricultural waste with citric characteristics removed arsenic more effectively than other chosen agricultural wastes, but the solution generated by biosorption with citric agrowaste does not support plant and animal growth. Among the other chosen adsorbents, rice husk has been found to be highly suitable for plant and animal growth by reducing the toxic effects of arsenic., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All authors have read, understood, and complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Toxicological studies are important to investigate the genotoxic effects of various substances. Allium cepa can be used as test model for this purpose. This review summarizes the scope and applications for this A. cepa test model. For this, an up-to-date (April 2023) literature search was made in the Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science databases to find published evidence on studies performed using A. cepa as a test model. Out of 3,748 studies, 74 fit the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the use of the test model A. cepa contributed considerably to measuring the toxicological potential of plant extracts, proving the efficacy of the test as a potent bioindicator of toxic effects. In addition, 27 studies used more than one test system to verify the toxicological potential of extracts and fractions. Studies have shown that the A. cepa model has the potential to replace other test systems that make use of animals and cell cultures, besides having other advantages such as low cost, ease of execution, and good conditions for the observation of chromosomes. In conclusion, the A. cepa test can be considered one of the potential biomonitoring systems in toxicological studies of crude extracts., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Plants are sensitive to environmental pollutants and are excellent organisms for genetic and physiological testing. Plant-based test systems are often used to study aquatic, aerial, and terrestrial pollution, especially Allium cepa, but studies with Tradescatia pallida specimens have gained prominence due to their sensitivity and applicability. Among the biomarkers, cytogenetic damage and chlorophyll levels are used in stress studies due to their responses to single or combined factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytogenetic and photosynthetic responses in T. pallida, and cytogenetic responses in A. cepa exposed to water from three sampling stations in the Juara lagoon (Municipality of Serra, ES, Brazil), collected in two sampling campaigns. The cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic potentials were analyzed using the T. pallida root tip mitosis assay and the Allium cepa test. Chloroplast pigment levels were measured in T. pallida leaves after chronic exposure to the lagoon water. The cytogenetic tests showed cytogenetic alterations at two sampling stations in at least one sampling campaign, suggesting the presence of potential pollutants, the effects of which were maximized during the rainy season. The study of photosynthetic metabolism in T. pallida showed a relationship between the levels of chloroplast pigments and the amount of nutrients present in the water., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: All the authors consented to take part in this study. Consent for publication: All the authors have consented to the publication of this work. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Isolation and structural characterization of two large families of organosulfur compounds spontaneously formed upon cutting of onion ( Allium cepa ) were carried out. The structures of these hitherto unknown species, trivially named cepathiolactols and cepathiolactones, were established based on NMR, MS, and IR data. It was found that cepathiolactols (C x H y OS 3 and C x H y O 2 S 4 ; x = 7-12, y = 14-24) are 3,4-dimethyl-γ-thiolactols bearing various side chains linked via a disulfanyl moiety at position C-5. On the other hand, cepathiolactones were shown to be 3,4-dimethyl-γ-thiolactones structurally analogous to cepathiolactols. Sensory properties of cepathiolactols were also evaluated, along with testing their ability to participate in the formation of pink discoloration of processed onion.

Acne is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages and can lead to significant physical and psychological distress. The first line of action against acne is topical products, though the most effective are topical antibiotics. In such a scenario, the development of effective and safe herbal formulations for the treatment of acne is of great importance. Rubia cordifolia , Aloe barbadensis , and Allium cepa extracts are rich sources of bioactive metabolites and are safe compared with antibiotics, in addition to being cost effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Also, their combination has not been studied for treating acne, and their potential benefits need to be investigated. The present study aimed to develop an effective polyherbal gel formulation of R. cordifolia , A. barbadensis , and A. cepa combined extract for treating acne and validate its effect with reference to conventional antibiotics. Plant materials were extracted in water by the reflux method, and phytochemical analysis was done for flavonoid, anthraquinone, and phenolic contents. The combined extract ( R. cordifolia , A. barbadensis , and A. cepa extracts) was formulated in gel. The selected polyherbal gel was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion against Cutibacterium acnes ( P. acnes) culture. Phytochemical analysis of the composite extract revealed the rich presence of flavonoids, phenolics, and anthraquinones. The polyherbal gels showed good physicochemical properties; however, FCEG-4 was selected for further studies. It was found to be effective against C. acnes (MTCC 1951) in agar well diffusion, as it showed a similar zone of inhibition as that of standard. Also, during in vivo studies, FCEG-4 showed comparable efficacy with clindamycin gel. It was concluded from the study that composite extracts incorporated in an aqueous-based gel system were effective in topical therapy of mild acne vulgaris, showing similar efficacy to that of clindamycin cream.

New mixtures of pesticides are being placed on the market to increase the spectrum of phytosanitary action. Thus, the eco(geno)toxic effects of the new commercial mixture named Platinum Neo, as well as its constituents the neonicotinoid Thiamethoxam and the pyrethroid Lambda-Cyhalothrin, were investigated using the species Daphnia magna, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Danio rerio, and Allium cepa L. The lowest- and no-observed effect concentration (LOEC and NOEC) were measured in ecotoxicological tests. While Thiamethoxam was ecotoxic at ppm level, Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Platinum Neo formulation were ecotoxic at ppb level. The mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus [MN] frequency were measured as indicators of phytogenotoxicity in A. cepa plants exposed for 12 h to the different insecticides and their mixture under different dilutions. There were significant alterations in the MI and MN frequency in comparison with the A. cepa negative control group, with Thiamethoxam, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, and Platinum Neo treatments all significantly reducing MI and increasing MN frequency. Thus, MI reduction was found at 13.7 mg L -1 for Thiamethoxam, 0.8 μg L -1 for Lambda-Cyahalothrin, and 2.7:2 μg L -1 for Platinum Neo, while MN induction was not observed at 14 mg L -1 for Thiamethoxam, 0.8 μg L -1 for Lambda-Cyahalothrin, and 1.4:1 μg L -1 for Platinum Neo. The insecticide eco(geno)toxicity hierarchy was Platinun Neo > Lambda-Cyhalothrin > Thiamethoxam, and the organism sensitivity hierarchy was daphnids > fish > algae > A. cepa. Eco(geno)toxicity studies of new pesticide mixtures can be useful for management, risk assessment, and avoiding impacts of these products on living beings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Claudemir Marcos Radetski reports financial support was provided by FAPESC. Claudemir M. Radetski reports a relationship with FAPESC that includes: funding grants. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Salinity stress negatively affects the growth and yield of crops worldwide. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is moderately sensitive to salinity. Beneficial microorganisms can potentially confer salinity tolerance. This study investigated the effects of endomycorrhizal fungi (M), Pseudomonas putida (Ps) and their combination (MPs) on onion growth under control (0 ppm), moderate (2000 ppm) and high (4000 ppm) NaCl salinity levels. A pot experiment was conducted with sandy loam soil and onion cultivar Giza 20. Results showed that salinity reduced growth attributes, leaf pigments, biomass and bulb yield while increasing oxidative stress markers. However, individual or combined inoculations significantly increased plant height, bulb diameter and biomass production compared to uninoculated plants under saline conditions. MPs treatment provided the highest stimulation, followed by Pseudomonas and mycorrhizae alone. Overall, dual microbial inoculation showed synergistic interaction, conferring maximum benefits for onion growth, bulbing through integrated physiological and biochemical processes under salinity. Bulb yield showed 3.5, 36 and 83% increase over control at 0, 2000 and 4000 ppm salinity, respectively. In conclusion, combined application of mycorrhizal-Pseudomonas inoculations (MPs) effectively mitigate salinity stress. This approach serves as a promising biotechnology for ensuring sustainable onion productivity under saline conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The olive tree is crucial to the Mediterranean agricultural economy but faces significant threats from climate change and soil-borne pathogens like Verticillium dahliae . This study assesses the dual role of an onion extract formulation, rich in organosulfur compounds, as both biostimulant and antifungal agent. Research was conducted across three settings: a controlled climatic chamber with non-stressed olive trees; an experimental farm with olive trees under abiotic stress; and two commercial olive orchards affected by V. dahliae . Results showed that in the climatic chamber, onion extract significantly reduced MDA levels in olive leaves, with a more pronounced reduction observed when the extract was applied by irrigation compared to foliar spray. The treatment also increased root length by up to 37.1% compared to controls. In field trials, irrigation with onion extract increased the number of new shoots by 148% and the length of shoots by 53.5%. In commercial orchards, treated trees exhibited reduced MDA levels, lower V. dahliae density, and a 26.7% increase in fruit fat content. These findings suggest that the onion extract effectively reduces oxidative stress and pathogen colonization, while enhancing plant development and fruit fat content. This supports the use of the onion extract formulation as a promising, sustainable alternative to chemical treatments for improving olive crop resilience.

Purpose: Practice of medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments is a history for several decades. Occurrence of active compounds in these plants makes it significant in the era of modern medicine. Garlic and onion a monocotyledonous bulbous flowering plant belonging to the genus Allium has an extensive tradition for being used as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-hyperepidemic, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, neuroprotective agent against various disorders. Modern day synthetic formulations have reduced efficacy and rendered with side effects that channelled the exploration for alternate source in plants for dealing with various disorders. The present study aims to explore the bioactive compounds present in Allium sativum (Garlic) and Allium cepa (Red Onion)., Methods: Garlic and onion powder was soaked in Methanol, filtered, and concentrated in a vacuum in a rotary evaporator. Fractionation was carried out.LC-MS analysis of aqueous fraction was performed using a Waters Mass Q-TOF Mass Spectrometer with diode array detector., Results: LC-MS analysis revealed the occurrence of 200 compounds in garlic and 184 compounds in onion. 3.53% in garlic and 4.37% in onion were the major chemical constituents based on the number of hits., Conclusion: This study suggests that the Allium sativum and Allium cepa herbal powders being loaded with large number of active compounds would be promising alternative agents due to their richness in antioxidants.

Thymus vulgaris and Allium cepa are plants with great medicinal importance. Thymol monoterpene and quercetin, which are present in these plants, have anti-Alzheimer's and antioxidant effects. The objectives of this research were investigating the effects of these compounds on the pathogenesis and progress of Alzheimer's disease in cells modeled by formaldehyde. MTT, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR were used to investigate the toxicity, survival rate and apoptosis of the cells, and the expression level of PP2A, GSK3, NMDAR, BACE1, and APP genes, respectively. Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells was measured. The results showed that the two compounds as well as the plants extract and essential oil were able to increase the percentage of cell survival; among them, Thymus vulgaris essential oil had the greatest effect (93.55316 % in 48 h exposure). In addition, quercetin was able to reduce the rate of apoptosis in Alzheimer's cells (4.73 %) which was greater than the effects of other compounds. In general, the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris compared to thymol; and quercetin compared to Allium cepa extract showed more improving effects on the expression of genes involved in the disease. All four compounds increased the antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells compared to the control group, and these effects were almost equal between the compounds. According to the obtained results, both plants, especially Thymus vulgaris can be proposed as candidates to be included in the diet of Alzheimer's patients. In addition, polyphenols thymol and quercetin as derivates from the studied plants can be used in new drugs development for Alzheimer's disease, with greater safety than currently used drugs. These results are significant because most of the drug for Alzheimer's treatments such as cholinesterases (e.g. rivastigmine and donepezil) and memantine are chemically based and have many side effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The burgeoning field of nanotechnology has ushered in innovative Novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) that enhance the efficacy, safety, and patient compliance of pharmaceutical treatments. This study explores the synthesis and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using green chemistry approaches, specifically leveraging plant extracts as reducing agents. AgNPs, known for their unique physical and chemical properties, including antimicrobial capabilities, offer significant potential in modern drug delivery. This study investigates the potential of using Allium cepa peel waste for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. This study also revealed the resultant formation of silver nanoparticles through microscopy and UV spectroscopy, which were further analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. This green synthesis method not only aligns with environmentally friendly practices but also provides a cost-effective and scalable approach to nanoparticle production. We formulated a hair dye incorporating these AgNPs and evaluated its physicochemical parameters, demonstrating enhanced performance compared to control formulations without nanoparticles. This work underscores the promise of green-synthesized nanoparticles in developing advanced drug delivery systems, offering insights into future applications in anticancer and antimicrobial treatments. Our findings advocate for the broader adoption of sustainable nanotechnology in pharmaceutical sciences, potentially revolutionizing the treatment landscape with safer and more effective therapeutic options.

Groundwater and soil contamination by aromatic amines (AAs), used in the production of polymers, plastics, and pesticides, often results from improper waste disposal and accidental leaks. These compounds are resistant to anaerobic degradation; however, micro-aeration can enhance this process by promoting microbial interactions. In batch assays, anaerobic degradation of aniline (0.14 mM), a model AA, was tested under three micro-aeration conditions: T30, T15, and T10 (30, 15, and 10 min of micro-aeration every 2 h, respectively). Aniline degradation occurred in all conditions, producing both aerobic (catechol) and anaerobic (benzoic acid) byproducts. The main genera involved in T30 and T15 were Comamonas , Clostridium , Longilinea , Petrimonas , Phenylobacterium , Pseudoxanthomonas , and Thiobacillus . In contrast, in T10 were Pseudomonas , Delftia , Leucobacter , and Thermomonas . While T30 and T15 promoted microbial cooperation for anaerobic degradation and facultative respiration, T10 resulted in a competitive environment due to dominance and oxygen scarcity. Despite aniline degradation in 9.4 h under T10, this condition was toxic to Allium cepa seeds and exhibited cytogenotoxic effects. Therefore, T15 emerged as the optimal condition, effectively promoting anaerobic degradation without accumulating toxic byproducts. Intermittent micro-aeration emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing the anaerobic degradation of AA-contaminated effluents., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict., (© 2024 The Authors This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits copying and redistribution for non-commercial purposes with no derivatives, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Despite the widespread use of dental restorative materials, little information exists in the literature regarding their potential impact on bad breath. This in vitro study aims to fill this gap by investigating the influence of different restorative materials on the release of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). Thirteen diverse dental restorative materials, including composites, flowable composites, glass ionomer restorative materials, high-copper amalgam, and CAD-CAM blocks, were examined. Cellulose Sponge models were used as negative and positive control. All samples were prepared with a diameter of 5 mm and a height of 2 mm. Except for the negative control group, all samples were embedded into Allium cepa L., and the emitted H 2 S was measured using the Wintact W8802 hydrogen sulfide monitor. Surface roughness's effect on emission was explored by roughening the surfaces of CAD-CAM material samples, and gas emission was measured again. The data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and DSCF pairwise comparison tests. Fiber-reinforced flowable composite (EverX Flow), amalgam (Nova 70-caps), and certain composite materials (IPS Empress Direct, Tetric Evoceram, Admira Fusion X-tra) released higher H 2 S concentrations compared to the negative control. The H 2 S release period lasted longer in the same materials mentioned above, along with G-aenial Universal Injectable. Indirectly used materials, such as GC Cerasmart, Vita Enamic, and Vita YZ HT, demonstrated significantly lower emissions compared to other direct restoratives. Importantly, the surface roughness of indirect materials did not significantly affect peak H 2 S concentrations or release times. The study reveals variations in H 2 S release among restorative materials, suggesting potential advantages of indirect restorative materials in reducing H 2 S-induced halitosis. This comprehensive understanding of the relationship between restorative materials and halitosis can empower both dental professionals and patients to make well-informed treatment choices. Notably, there is evidence supporting the enhanced performance of indirect restorative materials for individuals affected by halitosis., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Potassium is an important macro-fertilizer for plant growth but can be lost from the soil after application via irrigation. Slow-release nano-fertilizers can achieve sustainable crop cultivation and production, so this study evaluated the influence of potassium nanoparticles (K-NPs) with various concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/l) on onion development, production, pigments, chemical content, and DNA fingerprint during two sequential agriculture seasons in 2021 and 2022 at a private farm in Zagazig, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Spraying onion plants with K-NPs (200 mg/l) significantly improved the vegetative characteristics of onion plant growth and production, as well as increasing the plant pigments and the content of carbohydrate, oil, total indole, and phosphorus in onion bulbs. Similarly, 50 mg/l of K-NPs considerably increased the content of nitrogen, potassium, protein, antioxidant activity, and phenols in the onion bulbs. The content of total flavonoids and anthocyanin was increased with 100 mg/l of K-NPs. In conclusion, the foliar application of K-NPs improves the onion plant yield and quality and can achieve agricultural sustainability., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Among the compounds present in necro-leachate, a liquid released during the process of decomposition of the human body, are the biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine. Although some studies on necro-leachate have indicated a potential ecotoxicological and public health risk associated with it, the research on this type of contamination is still rather limited. This study presents information about the phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic potential of cadaverine and putrescine, evaluated separately and within a mixture. Phytotoxicity was evaluated through a germination test, the initial growth of seedlings with Lactuca sativa, and cytogenotoxicity through chromosomal aberration and micronucleus tests with Allium cepa. The L. sativa results showed a phytotoxic effect for the evaluated amines, by reducing root (> 90%) and hypocotyl (> 80%) elongation. The co-exposure of cadaverine and putrescine potentiated cytogenotoxic activity by aneugenic action in the meristematic cells of A. cepa. From this result, it is possible to infer the eco-toxicogenic potential of cadaverine and putrescine. This study not only highlights the importance of the phytotoxic and cytogenotoxic effects of these amines but also emphasizes the urgent need for further investigation into contamination originating from cemetery environments. By evaluating the risks associated with necro-leachate, this research is aimed at informing global efforts to protect ecological and public health., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The genus Achyranthes belong to the family Amaranthaceae which constitutes an important group of herbs and shrubs with immense medicinal value. The present research work was conducted to investigate the anticancer potential of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves by focusing on the antioxidant, aniproliferative and antimitotic activities of leaf extracts. Plant extraction was carried out by soxhelt method with different solvents. Phytochemical characterization of the plants extracts using chemical methods identified the presence of cardiac glycosides, saponins, coumarins, proteins, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenes. Alkaloid was present in methanolic and ethanolic extract. High performance liquid chromatography showed presence of different concentration of myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol in different extracts with the highest concentration of myricetin (84.53 μg/mL) in n-butanolic extract. The extracts were then tested for antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay by spectrophotometric method. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, antioxidant activity of A. aspera ranged between 79.78 ± 0.034% and 58.63 ± 0.069%. Highest antioxidant activity was observed for methanolic extract and lowest for acetone. Antimitotic activity was determined by using Allium cepa assay in which microscopic investigation was carried out to observe normal and abnormal phases of mitosis. In this assay, n-butanolic extract had highest antimitotic activity with minimum mitotic index at 2 mg/mL (57 ± 0.0351%). The plant extracts also caused chromosomal and mitotic aberrations which were clearly observed under 40× and 100× magnification of compound microscope. Antiproliferative activity was determined by using yeast cell model in which light microscope with hemocytometer was used for cell counting. In case of Antiproliferative activity, the ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lowest cell viability (22.14 ± 0.076%) at highest extract concentration (2 mg/mL) while methanol extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lower cell viability (24.24 ± 0.057%) at lowest extract concentration (0.25 mg/mL). The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Achyranthes aspera L. leaves have various phytochemicals which contribute to its medicinal properties Various extracts of the leaves of A. aspera L. possess antioxidant, antimitotic and antiproliferative potential The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

α-Mannosidase (ALMAN) extracted from onion ( Allium cepa ) was purified by column chromatography such as hydrophobic and gel filtration. ALMAN is an acidic α-mannosidase that exhibits maximum activity against p NP-α-Man at pH 4.0-5.0 at 50°C. Amino acid sequence analysis of ALMAN was consistent with α-mannosidase deduced from Allium cepa transcriptome analysis. The gene alman was amplified by PCR using mRNA extracted from onions, and a full-length gene of 3,054 bp encoding a protein of 1,018 amino acid residues was revealed. ALMAN is classified as Glycoside Hydrolase Family (GH) 38 and showed homology with other plant-derived α-mannosidases such as tomato and hot pepper., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests., (2024 by The Japanese Society of Applied Glycoscience.)

Nanoscale carbon was obtained from six widely used plastics (PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and PP) via thermal degradation (600 °C) under inert atmosphere. The thermally degraded products were processed through bath sonication followed by lyophilisation and the same was characterized through proximate analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Transmission electron micrograph (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A series of aqueous solution of nanoscale carbon (5-30 mg/L) were prepared and same were used as both mosquito growth inhibitor and larvicidal agent against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Culex pipiens. The significant percent mortality results were recorded for LDPE (p < 0.007) with average particle size of 3.01 nm and 62.95 W% of carbon and PS (p < 0.002) with average particle size of 12.80 nm and 58.73 W% of carbon against 3rd instar larvae, respectively. Similarly, for 4th instar larvae, both significant pupicidal and adulticidal activity were also recorded for PET (F = 24.0, p < 0.0001 and F = 5.73, p < 0.006), and HDPE (F = 26.0, p < 0.0001) and F = 5.30, p < 0.008). However, significant pupicidal activity were observed for PVC (F = 6.90, p < 0.003), and PS (F = 21.30, p < 0.0001). Histological, bio-chemical and microscopic studies were revealed that nanoscale carbon causes mild to severe damage of external and internal cellular integrity of larvae. However, nanoscale carbon does not exhibit any chromosomal abnormality and anatomical irregularities in Allium cepa and Cicer arietinum, respectively. Similarly, non-significant results with respect to blood cell deformation were also recorded from blood smear of Poecilia reticulata. Therefore, it can be concluded that plastic origin nanoscale carbon could be a viable sustainable nano-weapon towards control of insects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Onions are economically and nutritionally important vegetable crops. Despite advances in technology and acreage, Indian onion growers face challenges in realizing their full productivity potential. This study examines the technical efficiency of onion growers, the factors influencing it, and the constraints faced by those adopting drip irrigation in the Ghod river basin of western Maharashtra. A sample of 480 farmers including those practicing drip irrigation and those not practicing it, was selected from Junnar, Shirur, Parner, and Shrigonda blocks of the basin. The primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Analytical tools such as the Cobb-Douglas production function (represents technological relationship between multiple inputs and the resulting output), a single-stage stochastic frontier model, the Tobit model, and descriptive statistics were used to assess the technical efficiency of onion production at the farm level., Results: According to the maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier analysis, drip adopters exhibited a mean technical efficiency of 92%, while for non-adopters it was 65%. It indicates that the use of drip irrigation technology is associated with higher technical efficiency. The association of technical efficiency and socio-economic characters of households showed that education, extension contacts, social participation, and use of information sources had a positive influence on technical efficiency, while family size had a negative influence on the drip irrigation adopters. For non-drip adopters, significant positive effects were observed for landholding, extension contact, and information source use. The major constraints faced by drip system adopters included a lack of knowledge about the proper operating techniques for drip systems and the cost of maintenance., Conclusion: The differences with inputs associated with two irrigation methods showed that the response of inputs to increase onion yield is greater for farmers who use drip irrigation than for farmers who do not, and are a result of the large differences in the technical efficiencies. These inefficiencies and other limitations following the introduction of drip irrigation, such as lack of knowledge about the proper operations, need to be addressed through tailored training for farmers and further interventions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study explores the environmental effects of five common veterinary antibiotics widely detected in the environment, (chlortetracycline,CTC; oxytetracycline,OTC; florfenicol,FF; neomycin, NMC; and sulfadiazine, SDZ) on four bioindicators: Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri, Eisenia fetida, and Allium cepa, representing aquatic and soil environments. Additionally, microbial communities characterized through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing from a river and natural soil were exposed to the antibiotics to assess changes in population growth and metabolic profiles using Biolog EcoPlates™. Tetracyclines are harmful to Vibrio fisheri (LC 50 ranges of 15-25 µg/mL), and the other three antibiotics seem to only affect D. magna, especially, SDZ. None of the antibiotics produced mortality in E. fetida at concentrations below 1000 mg/kg. NMC and CTC had the highest phytotoxicities in A. cepa (LC 50 = 97-174 µg/mL, respectively). Antibiotics significantly reduced bacterial metabolism at 0.1-10 µg/mL. From the highest to the lowest toxicity on aquatic communities: OTC > FF > SDZ ≈ CTC > NMC and on edaphic communities: CTC ≈ OTC > FF > SDZ > NMC. In river communities, OTC and FF caused substantial decreases in bacterial metabolism at low concentrations (0.1 µg/mL), impacting carbohydrates, amino acids (OTC), and polymers (FF). At 10 µg/mL and above, OTC, CTC, and FF significantly decreased metabolizing all tested metabolites. In soil communities, a more pronounced decrease in metabolizing ability, detectable at 0.1 µg/mL, particularly affected amines/amides and carboxylic and ketonic acids (p < 0.05). These new ecotoxicity findings underscore that the concentrations of these antibiotics in the environment can significantly impact both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In 2021, two gram-negative bacterial strains were isolated from garlic ( Allium sativum ) bulbs showing decay and soft rot symptoms in Central Iran. The bacterial strains were aggressively pathogenic on cactus, garlic, gladiolus, onion, potato, and saffron plants and induced soft rot symptoms on carrot, cucumber, potato, and radish discs. Furthermore, they were pathogenic on sporophores of cultivated and wild mushrooms. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the bacterial strains belong to Burkholderia gladioli . Garlic bulb rot caused by B. gladioli has rarely been reported in the literature. Historically, B. gladioli strains had been assigned to four pathovars, namely, B. gladioli pv. alliicola , B. gladioli pv . gladioli , B. gladioli pv. agaricicola , and B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans , infecting onion, Gladiolus sp., and mushrooms and poisoning foods, respectively. Multilocus (i.e., 16S rRNA, atpD , gyrB , and lepA genes) sequence-based phylogenetic investigations including reference strains of B. gladioli pathovars showed that the two garlic strains belong to phylogenomic clade 2 of the species, which includes the pathotype strain of B. gladioli pv. alliicola . Although the garlic strains were phylogenetically closely related to the B. gladioli pv. alliicola reference strains, they possessed pathogenicity characteristics that overlapped with three of the four historical pathovars, including the ability to rot onion (pv. alliicola ), gladiolus (pv. gladioli ), and mushrooms (pv. agaricicola ). Furthermore, the pathotype of each pathovar could infect the hosts of other pathovars, undermining the utility of the pathovar concept in this species. Overall, using phenotypic pathovar-oriented assays to classify B. gladioli strains should be replaced by phylogenetic or phylogenomic analysis., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

The ocular surface is subject to a range of potentially hazardous environmental factors and substances, owing to its anatomical location, sensitivity, and physiological makeup. Xenobiotic stress exerted by chronic pesticide exposure on the cornea is primarily responsible for ocular irritation, excessive tear production (hyper-lacrimation), corneal abrasions and decreased visual acuity. Traditional medicine hails the humble onion (Allium cepa) for its multi-faceted properties including but not limited to anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing. However, there is a lacuna regarding its impact on the ocular surface. Thereby, the current study investigated whether topical application of crude extract of Allium cepa aided in mitigating pesticide-induced damage to the ocular surface. The deleterious effects of pesticide exposure and their mitigation through the topical application of herbal extract of Allium cepa were analysed initially through in vitro evaluation on cell lines and then on the ocular surface via various in-vivo and ex-vivo techniques. Pathophysiological alterations to the ocular surface that impacted vision were explored through detailed neurophysiological screening with special emphasis on visual acuity wherein it was observed that the murine group treated with topical application of Allium cepa extract had comparable visual capacity to the non-pesticide exposed group. Additionally, SOD2 was utilized as an oxidative stress marker along with the expression of cellular apoptotic markers such as Bcl-xL to analyse the impact of pesticide exposure and subsequent herbal intervention on oxidative stress-induced corneal damage. The impact on the corneal epithelial progenitor cell population (ABCG2 and TERT positive cells) was also flowcytometrically analysed. Therefore, from our observations, it can be postulated that the topical application of Allium cepa extract might serve as an effective strategy to alleviate pesticide exposure related ocular damage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declared that there are no commercial affiliations or consultancies, stock or equity interests, or patent-licensing arrangements that could be considered a potential conflict of interest regarding the submitted manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present work explores the genotoxicity of the fungicides iprodione (IP) and tebuconazole (TB) using the Allium cepa assay as an in vivo biological model. Both short-term and long-term exposures were studied, revealing concentration- and time-dependent cytological and genotoxic effects. IP exhibited genotoxicity over a wider concentration range (5-50 µg/ml) and required 30 h of exposure, while TB showed genotoxicity at higher concentrations (10 and 30 µg/ml) within a 4-h exposure period. The study highlights the importance of assessing potential risks associated with fungicide exposure, including handling, disposal practices, and concerns regarding food residue. Moreover, the research underscores the genotoxic effects of IP and TB on plant cells and provides valuable insights into their concentration and time-response patterns., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The ecotoxic effect of Zn species arising from the weathering of the marmatite-like sphalerite ((Fe, Zn)S) in Allium cepa systems was herein evaluated in calcareous soils and connected with its sulfide oxidation mechanism to determine the chemical speciation responsible of this outcome. Mineralogical analyses (X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy), chemical study of leachates (total Fe, Zn, Cd, oxidation-reduction potential, pH, sulfates and total alkalinity) and electrochemical assessments (chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) were carried out using (Fe, Zn)S samples to elucidate interfacial mechanisms simulating calcareous soil conditions. Results indicate the formation of polysulfides (S n 2- ), elemental sulfur (S 0 ), siderite (FeCO 3 )-like, hematite (Fe 2 O 3 )-like with sorbed CO 3 2- species, gunningite (ZnSO 4 ·H 2 O)-like phase and smithsonite (ZnCO 3 )-like compounds in altered surface under calcareous conditions. However, the generation of gunningite (ZnSO 4 ·H 2 O)-like phase was predominant bulk-solution system. Quantification of damage rates ranges from 75 to 90% of bulb cells under non-carbonated conditions after 15-30 days, while 50-75% of damage level is determined under neutral-alkaline carbonated conditions. Damage ratios are 70.08 and 30.26 at the highest level, respectively. These findings revealed lower ecotoxic damage due to ZnCO 3 -like precipitation, indicating the effect of carbonates on Zn compounds during vegetable up-taking (exposure). Other environmental suggestions of the (Fe, Zn)S weathering and ecotoxic effects under calcareous soil conditions are discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Sewage sludge (biosolids) management represents a worldwide issue. Due to its valuable properties, approximately one half of the EU production is recovered in agriculture. Nevertheless, growing attention is given to potential negative effects deriving from the presence of harmful pollutants. It is recognized that a (even very detailed) chemical characterization is not able to predict ecotoxicity of a mixture. However, this can be directly measured by bioassays. Actually, the choice of the most suitable tests is still under debate. This paper presents a multilevel characterization protocol of sewage sludge and other organic residues, based on bioassays and chemical-physical-microbiological analyses. The detailed description of the experimental procedure includes all the involved steps: the criteria for selecting the organic matrices to be tested and compared; the sample pre-treatment required before the analyses execution; the chemical, physical and microbiological characterisation; the bioassays, grouped in three classes (baseline toxicity; specific mode of action; reactive mode of action); data processing. The novelty of this paper lies in the integrated use of advanced tools, and is based on three pillars:•the direct ecosafety assessment of the matrices to be reused.•the adoption of innovative bioassays and analytical procedures.•the original criteria for data normalization and processing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (©e 1, Neuherberg .)

In this study, the toxic effects of permethrin on Allium cepa L. and the protective role of Zingiber officinale rhizome extract (Zoex) were investigated. In this context, 6 different groups were formed. While the control group was treated with tap water, the groups II and III were treated with 10 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL Zoex, respectively, and the group IV was treated with 100 µg/L permethrin. The protective effect of Zoex against permethrin toxicity was studied as a function of dose, and groups V and VI formed for this purpose were treated with 10 µg/mL Zoex + 100 µg/L permethrin and 20 µg/mL Zoex + 100 µg/L permethrin, respectively. After 72 h of germination, cytogenetic, biochemical, physiological, and anatomical changes in meristematic cells of A. cepa were studied. As a result, permethrin application decreased the mitotic index (MI) and increased the frequency of micronuclei (MN), and chromosomal abnormalities. The increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) and the decrease in glutathione (GSH) indicate that permethrin causes oxidative damage. Compared to the control group, a 68.5% decrease in root elongation (p < 0.05) and an 81.8% decrease (p < 0.05) in weight gain were observed in the permethrin-treated group. It was found that the application of Zoex together with permethrin resulted in regression of all detected abnormalities, reduction in the incidence of anatomical damage, MN and chromosomal aberrations, and improvement in MI rates. The most significant improvement was observed in group VI treated with 20 µg/mL Zoex, and Zoex was also found to provide dose-dependent protection. The toxicity mechanism of permethrin was also elucidated by molecular docking and spectral studies. From the data obtained during the study, it was found that permethrin has toxic effects on A. cepa, a non-target organism, while Zoex plays a protective role by reducing these effects., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Heavy metals (HMs) are natural components of the Earth's crust that might originate from natural and anthropogenic sources. In excess quantities, the presence of these metals is harmful for both environment and human health. Taking this into account, various investigators examined bioaccumulator species in order to reduce environmental toxicity, among these Baccharis trimera . Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the capacity of B. trimera to bioaccumulate HMs and assess consequent cytogenotoxicity following exposure. B. trimera vegetative parts were collected from two groups (1) control, in which plants were cultivated in soil exposed to distilled water, and (2) exposed, in which plants were cultivated in soil exposed to HMs including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and chromium (Cr). HMs were quantified in cultivation soil and extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) as well as infusion of B. trimera vegetative parts. Root lengths and cytogenotoxic effects were determined using Allium cepa test. Results demonstrated that all HMs studied were absorbed and bioaccumulated by B. trimera . Root lengths were decreased when exposed to ethanolic extract of B. trimera cultivated in soil exposed to HMs solution, which was the extract that exhibited the highest cytogenotoxicity values. Thus, data demonstrated that B. trimera might serve as a bioaccumulator for the reduction of environmental toxicity associated with the presence of certain HMs.

Despite widespread industrial use, the environmental safety of hydroquinone (HQ), a benzene compound from plants used in processes like cosmetics, remains uncertain. This study evaluated the ecotoxicological impact of HQ on soil and river environments, utilizing non-target indicator organisms from diverse trophic levels: Daphnia magna , Aliivibrio fischeri , Allium cepa , and Eisenia fetida . For a more environmentally realistic assessment, microbial communities from a river and untreated soil underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with growth and changes in community-level physiological profiling assessed using Biolog EcoPlate™ assays. The water indicator D. magna exhibited the highest sensitivity to HQ (EC 50 = 0.142 µg/mL), followed by A. fischeri (EC 50 = 1.446 µg/mL), and A. cepa (LC 50 = 7.631 µg/mL), while E. fetida showed the highest resistance (EC 50 = 234 mg/Kg). Remarkably, microbial communities mitigated HQ impact in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. River microorganisms displayed minimal inhibition, except for a significant reduction in polymer metabolism at the highest concentration (100 µg/mL). Soil communities demonstrated resilience up to 100 µg/mL, beyond which there was a significant decrease in population growth and the capacity to metabolize carbohydrates and polymers. Despite microbial mitigation, HQ remains highly toxic to various trophic levels, emphasizing the necessity for environmental regulations.

Soilborne pathogens reduce 60% of the yield of onion crops. A common fungal pathogen causing wilt disease and severe losses is Fusarium basal rot (FBR). In this study, the combination of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) with Trichoderma harzianum was investigated against FBR. Onion samples were collected from the Ankara-Polatlı region. Among the isolates, isolate S6 was identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC) using morphological and molecular methods and pathogenicity tests. Different combinations of AMF ( Funneliformis mosseae pure strain and the commercial AMF) and T. harzianum were inoculated on susceptible onion cultivars (Seç, Gence, and Şampiyon). The effects of the treatments on FOC biocontrol were studied under growth chamber conditions. The results showed that Şampiyon was the most resistant, while Gence was the most susceptible to basal rot disease. Different colonization rates (8.91-24%), spore densities (16.4-50.4 spore/10 g soil), and the extent to which a plant needs mycorrhizal conditions to grow to its maximum potential (i.e., mycorrhizal dependencies-18.3-51.9%) were recorded by treatment. Both single and combined applications of AMF and Trichoderma applications suppressed FOC. Suppressive effects were more pronounced when the F. mosseae pure strain was used alone (when F. mosseae was used, disease severity decreased from 90 to 68%, p < 0.05). The F. mosseae pure strain also showed the best plant growth promotion and phosphorus content release. The results indicate an interesting potential use of F. mosseae and the combination of AMF with T. harzianum in the management of FOC in onions.

The contamination of farm soils with heavy metals (HMs) has raised significant concerns due to the increased bioavailability and accumulation of HMs in agricultural food crops. To address this issue, a survey experiment was conducted in the suburbs of Multan and Faisalabad to investigate the spatial distribution, bioaccumulation, translocation, and health risks of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in agricultural crops. The results show a considerable concentration of Cd and Pb in soils irrigated with wastewater, even though these levels were below the permissible limits in water and soil matrices. The pollution index for Cd was mostly greater than 1 at the selected sites, indicating its accumulation in soil over time due to wastewater irrigation. Conversely, the pollution index for Pb was below 1 at all sites. Among the plants, Zea mays accumulated the highest concentration of Cd and Pb. The translocation factor from soil to root was highest for Brassica olearecea (7.037 for Cd) and Zea mays (6.383 for Pb). The target hazard quotient (THQ) value of Cd exceeded the non-carcinogenic limit for most vegetables. The highest value was found in Allium cepa (5.256) and the lowest in Allium sativum (0.040). In contrast, the THQ level of Pb was below the non-carcinogenic limit for most vegetables, except for Allium cepa (1.479), Solanum lycopersicum (1.367), and Solanum tuberosum (1.326). The study highlights that Allium cepa poses the highest health risk for humans, while Medicago sativa poses the highest risk for animals due to Cd and Pb contamination. These results underscore the urgent need for effective measures to mitigate the health risks associated with HM contamination in crops and soils., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Colors have been added to food naturally and artificially for centuries to make them look more appetizing. According to the Food and Drug Organization, eight artificial colors were registered for the nutrition application, one of them, is tartrazine, which is widely used in foods and cosmetics. Food colors significantly decrease weight and increase proteins, liver enzymes, thyroid hormones, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. Onion, as an antioxidant, can reduce the harmful effects of artificial food colors on weight gain, antioxidant activity, and blood biochemical factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the onion's antioxidant properties on serum biochemical factors and antioxidants in Wistar rats after consuming tartrazine. Eighty Rats were divided into four groups, 20 mice in each. The first group received water without additives and was considered the control, the second group received tartrazine, the third group received tartrazine with onion juice, and the fourth group received only onion juice through gastric gavage. This experiment was performed for 60 days, and then the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the biochemical parameters of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured. Tartrazine decreased the antioxidant activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and the biochemical parameters of HDL and LDL. The results showed that the consumption of tartrazine causes the production of free radicals, which is the reason for the significant reduction of antioxidant activities and serum biochemical factors. Onion, as an antioxidant in this study, reduces the effects of tartrazine on antioxidant activities and serum biochemical factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of garlic and onion, two Allium spices rich in sulfur compounds, on the bioaccessibility of iron from Moringa oleifera leaves. We first quantified anti-nutritional factors in various cooked mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and spices, with increasing level of incorporation of garlic or onion. We then assessed the iron bioaccessibility of the various mixtures using a simulated in vitro digestion method. Finally, we studied the speciation of bioaccessible iron. Total phenols contents ranging from 801.44 to 903.07 and from 869.78 to 990.72 mg/100 g of dry matter in garlic and onion mixtures, respectively, increased ( p  < .05) with the level of incorporation of spices. Phytates contents followed the same tendency with values ranging from 1.84 to 2.12 and from 1.75 to 2.02 mg/100 g of dry matter in garlic and onion mixtures, respectively. Although the presence of garlic and onion significantly reduced ( p  < .05) the total iron content of the mixtures (11.56-11.96 mg/100 g of dry matter), we noticed that bioaccessible iron was significantly higher ( p  < .05) in spiced mixtures (36.35%-48.40%) compared to the control (23.28%), with the greatest amount found in the mixture containing 10 g of onion. The predominant specie of bioaccessible iron was organic iron, whose amounts in the spiced mixtures (0.59-0.69 mg/L) were all significantly higher ( p  < .05) than in the control (0.32 mg/L). Globally, the presence of spices produced no significant variation ( p  > .05) in amounts of ferrous iron, the major inorganic specie of bioaccessible iron. The use of garlic and onion as ingredients could help improving the iron status of populations consuming iron-rich leafy vegetables., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB), caused by the fungus Stemphylium vesicarium , is dominant within the foliar disease complex affecting onion production in New York (NY). The disease causes premature defoliation and significant reductions in bulb weight and quality. Foliar diseases of onion are usually managed by an intensive fungicide program, but SLB management is complicated by resistance to multiple single-site modes of action. The design of integrated disease management strategies is limited by incomplete knowledge surrounding the dominant sources of S. vesicarium inoculum. To facilitate genomic-based studies of S. vesicarium populations, nine microsatellite markers were developed. The markers were multiplexed into two PCR assays containing four and five fluorescently labeled microsatellite markers. Initial testing of the S. vesicarium isolates found the markers were highly polymorphic and reproducible with an average of 8.2 alleles per locus. The markers were used to characterize 54 S. vesicarium isolates from major NY onion production regions in 2016 ( n = 27) and 2018 ( n = 27). Fifty-two multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified between these populations. Genotypic and allelic diversities were high in both the 2016 and 2018 populations. A greater degree of genetic variation was observed within populations than between years. No distinct pattern of MLGs according to population was identified and some MLGs were closely related between 2016 and 2018. The lack of evidence for linkage among loci also was strongly suggestive of clonal populations with only minor differences between the two populations. These microsatellite markers will be a foundational resource for the testing of hypotheses surrounding the population biology of S. vesicarium and therefore informing disease management., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Environmental effects of active pharmaceutical compounds (APCs) in the environment are not well characterized, hence the need for comprehensive evaluation. This study employed three bioassays using three organisms, namely, Allium cepa, Daphnia magna, and Salmonella typhimurium, in the ecotoxicity study of lone and a mixture of selected APCs, namely, lamivudine (L), an antiretroviral, and ciprofloxacin (C) and sulfamethoxazole (S), antibiotics, at a concentration range between 10 and 100 ppb, in order to evaluate the potential of the lone and ternary mixture to exert synergistic toxicity. Study results from exposure to lone APCs showed that the L, C, and S trio individually had fatal impacts on daphnids, with mortality rates of 100, 75, and 95%, respectively, after 48 h. Sulfamethoxazole showed a mutagenic tendency, with a mutation ratio (background/sample ratio) of 2.0. Lamivudine showed a lethal impact on the root length of A. cepa (p > 0.05, p = 3.60E-3). Further microscopic examination of the A. cepa root tip revealed chromosomal aberrations on exposure to each compound. The LCS-mix ecotoxicology bioassays indicated a synergistic effect on the daphnids, probably due to potentiation. Although the LCS mix had a cytotoxic effect (evidenced by the absence of bacteria colonies) on exposed TA 98 P450 Salmonella typhimurium strain, this effect was not observed in other bacterial strains. Microscopic examination of A. cepa exposed to the LCS-mix revealed an aberration in the mitotic stage of the cell. The impact of combination of the pharmaceuticals in aqueous ecosystems was greater than when exposed to the tested individual pharmaceutical compounds. Study result showed that these compounds have tendencies to pose a higher risk to exposed living entities when in combined/potentiated forms, and this could lead to distortion of the regular functioning of the ecosystem, particularly bacterial and other microbial populations that are listed among primary producers of the aquatic food web., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Black cumin/ Nigella sativa  is traditionally used for its wide range of medicinal effects. Clove/ Syzygium aromaticum  is well known as a natural antibiotic with antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, and onion/ Allium cepa  for its antibacterial properties. The combination of these extracts can effectively have many therapeutic applications., Aim: The aim of the present study is to prepare the formulation of  N. sativa, S. aromaticum, A. cepa  and to assess the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effect of the prepared   formulation., Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial activity was carried out by agar well diffusion method and cytotoxic activity was carried out using the brine shrimp lethality assay method., Results: The antimicrobial activity showed the zone of inhibition was highest with  Staphylococcus aureus  showing 22 mm of zone of inhibition at 100 µl. The cytotoxicity test showed there are about 90% live nauplii in the lowest concentration at 5 µl., Conclusion: The study concluded that the combination extract of  N. sativa, S. aromaticum, and A. cepa  could be used as an antimicrobial agent. Further research with pathogenic oral microorganisms can validate this formulation as an antimicrobial gel or mouthwash for various pathologies., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Begum et al.)

Graphene oxide (GO) is widely acknowledged for its exceptional biological and industrial applications. However, its discharge into the environment negatively impacts the ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of GO in Allium cepa root tip cells and the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in modulating its toxic effects. To evaluate toxicity, various endpoints like cell viability using Evans blue dye, cytotoxicity (mitotic index), genotoxicity (chromosomal aberrations), and oxidative stress assessments (total ROS, superoxide, hydroxyl radical production, and lipid peroxidation) were considered. The results suggest that pristine GO caused a dose-dependent increase in various toxicity parameters, especially the genotoxic effects. Oxidative stress generation by GO is proposed to be the principal mode of action. The EPS-corona formed on GO could potentially counteract the toxic effects, substantially reducing the oxidative stress within the cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the toxicity induced by the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in Allium cepa L. was investigated. For this aim, bulbs were divided into 4 groups as control and application (100, 500 and 4000 µM MMS) and germinated for 72 h at 22-24 °C. At the end of the germination period root tips were collected and made ready for analysis by applying traditional preparation methods. Germination, root elongation, weight, mitotic index (MI) values, micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal abnormality (CAs) numbers, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and anatomical structures of bulbs were used as indicators to determine toxicity. Moreover the extent of DNA fragmentation induced by MMS was determined by comet assay. To confirm the DNA fragmentation induced by MMS, the DNA-MMS interaction was examined with molecular docking. Correlation and principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to examine the relationship between all parameters and understand the underlying structure and relationships among these parameters. In the present study, a deep neural network (DNN) with two hidden layers implemented in Matlab has been developed for the comparison of the estimated data with the real data. The effect of MDA levels, SOD and CAT activities at 4 different endpoints resulting from administration of various concentrations of MMS, including MN, MI, CAs and DNA damage, was attempted to be estimated by DNN model. It is assumed that the predicted results are in close agreement with the actual data. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated using 4 different metrics, MAE, MAPE, RMSE and R2, which together show that the model performs commendably. As a result, the highest germination, root elongation, weight gain and MI were measured in the control group. MMS application caused a decrease in all physiological parameters and an increase in cytogenetic (except MI) and biochemical parameters. MMS application caused an increase in antioxidant enzyme levels (SOD and CAT) up to a concentration of 500 µM and a decrease at 4000 µM. MMS application induced different types of CAs and anatomical damages in root meristem cells. The results of the comet assay showed that the severity of DNA fragmentation increased with increasing MMS concentration. Molecular docking analysis showed a strong DNA-MMS interaction. The results of correlation and PCA revealed significant positive and negative interactions between the studied parameters and confirmed the interactions of these parameters with MMS. It has been shown that the DNN model developed in this study is a valuable resource for predicting genotoxicity due to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In addition, this model has the potential to help evaluate the genotoxicity status of various chemical compounds. At the end of the study, it was concluded that MMS strongly supports a versatile toxicity in plant cells and the selected parameters are suitable indicators for determining this toxicity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, we investigate the toxicity of commercial formulations based on glyphosate, 2,4-D, imidacloprid, and iprodione, in isolation and mixed, on Allium cepa. The mixtures consisted of combinations in the lowest (M1), intermediate (M2), and highest concentrations (M3) of each pesticide. We measured physiological (germination rate, germination speed, and radicular length) and cyto-genotoxic (mitotic index and frequency of aberrant cells) parameters. In addition, we analyzed the cell cycle progression and cell death induction by flow cytometry. When applied in isolation, the pesticides changed the parameters evaluated. M1 and M2 inhibited root length and increased the frequency of aberrant cells. Their genotoxic effect was equivalent to that of pesticides applied in isolation. Furthermore, M1 and M2 caused cell death and M2 changed the cell cycle progression. M3 had the greatest deleterious effect on A. cepa. This mixture inhibited root length and promoted an additive or synergistic effect on the mitotic index. In addition, M3 changed all parameters analyzed by flow cytometry. This research clearly demonstrates that the pesticides tested, and their mixtures, may pose a risk to non-target organisms., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, the versatile toxicity profile of prometryn herbicide on Allium cepa was investigated. In this context, 4 different groups were formed. While the control group was treated with distilled water, Groups II, III and IV were treated with 200 mg/L, 400 mg/L and 800 mg/L prometryn, respectively. After 72 h of germination, cytogenetic, biochemical, physiological and anatomical changes were investigated. As a result increase in malondialdehyde levels, decrease in glutathione level, changes in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in root tip cells show that prometryn causes oxidative stress. The decrease in mitotic index values and the increase in the frequency of micronucleus and chromosomal abnormalities observed after prometryn treatment indicate genotoxic effects. The genotoxic effects may be due to the induced oxidative stress as well as the promethryn-DNA interaction. Molecular docking analyses revealed that prometryn interacts with various bases in DNA. As a result of the Comet assay, exposure to prometryn was found to cause DNA fragmentation. In physiological parameters final weight, germination percentage and root length decreased by 23.8%, 59.1% and 87.3%, respectively, in the 800 mg/L prometryn applied group. Deep neural network (DNN) model was optimized to predict the effects of different doses of prometryn on 4 different endpoints: micronucleus, mitotic index, chromosomal abnormalities and DNA Damage. The predicted data was found to be very similar to the actual data. The performance of the model was evaluated using MAE, MAPE, RMSE and R 2 , and these metrics indicate that the model performed well. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that the DNN model developed here is a valuable tool for predicting genotoxicity biomarkers in response to the application doses of prometryn, and has the potential to contribute to the development of safer and more sustainable agricultural practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen that causes listeriosis and has a high case fatality rate despite its low incidence. Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites have been identified as potential antibacterial substances, serving as replacements for synthetic chemical compounds. The present studies emphasize two significant medicinal plants, Allium cepa and Zingiber officinale, and their efficacy against L. monocytogenes. Firstly, a bacterial isolate was obtained from milk and identified through morphology and biochemical reactions. The species of the isolate were further confirmed through 16S rRNA analysis. Furthermore, polar solvents such as methanol and ethanol were used for the extraction of secondary metabolites from A. cepa and Z. officinale. Crude phytochemical components were identified using phytochemical tests, FTIR, and GC-MS. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the crude extract and its various concentrations were tested against L. monocytogenes. Among all, A. cepa in methanolic extracts showed significant inhibitory activity. Since, the A. cepa for methanolic crude extract was used to perform autography to assess its bactericidal activity. Subsequently, molecular docking was performed to determine the specific compound inhibition. The docking results revealed that four compounds displayed strong binding affinity with the virulence factor Listeriolysin-O of L. monocytogenes. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that the medicinal plant A. cepa has potential antibacterial effects against L. monocytogenes, particularly targeting its virulence., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Microbiological Society of Korea.)

The present study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with extracts of pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) and onion ( Allium cepa ), either encapsulated in cyclodextrin (POMALCD group) or in an aqueous (POMALAQ group) form, on breast meat, thigh meat, and liver composition, oxidative stability, cellular signaling pathways, and the gene expression of certain hepatic genes. The results showed that breast and thigh meat contained significantly ( p < 0.05) higher moisture content in the group with the aqueous extract, compared to the control and POMALCD groups. Moreover, the protein content was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in the thigh and liver samples of the treated groups in comparison to the control. The iron-induced challenge deteriorated ( p < 0.001) the lipid and protein oxidative status of the control group, whereas both supplemented groups showed considerable tolerance in all tissues. The supplementation of pomegranate and onion extracts mitigated or maintained heat shock protein (HSP) levels and elevated ( p < 0.05) the Bcl-2/Bad ratio in thigh and breast meat, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was modulated at a lower rate. After normalization to β-actin expression, quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed a significant ( p < 0.05) induction in the expression of MTR and MSRB1 genes in the liver of the supplemented groups. No differences were observed for the TAT, SMS, and BHMT genes. In conclusion, dietary mixtures of herbal extracts with pomegranate and onion improved protein and lipid oxidative stability in meat, enhanced the hepatic energy status, and exerted ameliorative effects on stress-related proteins. The encapsulated extract of pomegranate and onion, using cyclodextrin as a carrier, appeared to reduce lipid oxidation to a greater extent than the aqueous extract. In contrast, the aqueous extract exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values and provided better protection against protein carbonyl formation.

1background: Kidney stones is one of the serious medical conditions affecting populations worldwide. So, we aimed in this study to investigate the protective effect of allium cepa administration against KSD., 2methods: 24 adult male albino rats were assigned into 3 groups; group I: control group; group II: received ethylene glycol (EG) in the drinking water for 4 weeks; and group III received EG in the drinking water plus freshly prepared allium cepa extract (ACE) for 4 weeks. Renal function tests and urine analysis were done. Tissue oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA) were assessed, and kidney expression of SIRT-1, Beclin, LC3, osteopontin, and Regucalcin were measured by RT-qPCR. Histopathological assessment and immunohistochemistry for Bax, Beclin-1 and TNF-α were performed., 3results: There was a significant improved kidney function tests in the ACE received group compared to EG group (P < 0.001). The present study showed less stones formation and apoptosis with decreased osteopontin and autophagy genes expression in the ACE received group compared to EG group (P < 0.001). While, regucalcin and SIRT-1 genes showed higher expression in the former group than the later group (P < 0.001)., 4 Conclusion: Alium Cepa extract administration has a significant protective effect against kidney stones formation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Traditional medicinal plants have been used for decades in folk medicines in the treatment and management of several ailments and diseases including diabetes, pain, ulcers, cancers, and wounds, among others. This study focused on the phytochemical and antidiabetic activity of the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal species in Kenya. Phytochemical profiling of these species revealed flavonoids and terpenoids as the major chemical classes reported which have been linked with strong biological activities against the aforementioned diseases, among others. However, out of the selected twenty-two species, many of the natural product isolation studies have focused on only a few species, as highlighted in the study. All of the examined crude extracts from thirteen antidiabetic species demonstrated strong antidiabetic activities by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase among other mechanisms, while nine are yet to be evaluated for their antidiabetic activities. Isolated compounds S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide, quercetin, alliuocide G, 2-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3 (2 H )-benzofuranone, Luteolin-7- O -D-glucopyranoside, quercetin, 1,3,11 α -Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4 H -1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5 α -(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one and [1,3,11 α -Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4 H -1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5 α -(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one]-4'- O -D-gluco-pyranoside from Allium cepa have been found to exhibit significant antidiabetic activities. With the huge number of adults living with diabetes in Kenya and the available treatment methods being expensive yet not so effective, this study highlights alternative remedies by documenting the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal plants. Further, the study supports the antidiabetic use of these plants with the existing pharmacological profiles and highlights research study gaps. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct natural products isolation work on the selected antidiabetic species commonly used in Kenya and evaluate their antidiabetic activities, both in vitro and in vivo, to validate their antidiabetic use and come up with new antidiabetic drugs.

The aim of this study was to examine the water quality of the Extrema River spring in a Brazilian Cerrado area. Three collection sites (P1 - P3) were sampled in the dry and rainy seasons, which are close to industries from different sectors. In the physicochemical analysis, a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels (<5 mg/L) and pH (< 6) at P3 was detected. An increase in heterotrophic bacteria count was recorded at all sites (> 500 colonies/ml). In ecotoxicological analyses, P2 and P3 exhibited toxicity using Vibrio fischeri (> 20%). In evaluating toxicity, the reduction in seed germination was significant utilizing Lactuca sativa at all locations and with Allium cepa only at P2; rootlet length was decreased at P3 on L. sativa and at all sites with A. cepa. In contrast, loss of membrane integrity and mitochondrial function of meristems was adversely affected at all locations using both L. sativa and A. cepa assays. Principal components analysis (PCA) approach indicated that seasonality apparently did not markedly interfere with the obtained data, but it is important to include more collection locations to be evaluated with multiple bioindicators in the spring region. Our data indicate the urgent need for more rigorous programs to monitor the discharge of effluents into water springs.