Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Three Major Commercially Available Energy Drinks in Nigeria Using the Allium Cepa Assay

Okunola Adenrele Alabi, Abimbola Elizabeth Duduyegbe, Amos Tomiwa Afolabi

Citation: Okunola Adenrele Alabi, Abimbola Elizabeth Duduyegbe, Amos Tomiwa Afolabi, "Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Three Major Commercially Available Energy Drinks in Nigeria Using the Allium Cepa Assay", Universal Library of Biological Sciences, Volume 01, Issue 01.

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Many studies have been conducted for the evaluation of the toxicity of various complex mixtures, however, there is limited research on the cytogenotoxic effect of energy drinks despite its worldwide consumption. This study aimed at investigating the possible cytotoxicity through root growth inhibition and genetic damage through induced chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa by three major energy drinks in Nigeria. Onion bulbs were grown at 1.57, 3.13 and 6.25 % concentrations of each of the three energy drinks with 10 ppm lead nitrate and tap water as the positive and negative controls, respectively. At 48 and 72 hours, respectively, genotoxic and root growth inhibition analyses were carried out. Concentration-dependent inhibition of root growth and cell division was observed in the exposed onions which were significant (p < 0.05) in comparison with the negative control. Additionally, significant chromosomal abnormalities like spindle disturbances, sticky chromosomes, lagging chromosomes, fragmented chromosomes and binucleated cells were observed in the exposed onion roots. Onions grown at concentrations above the maximum concentration used in this study did not grow at all. These findings suggest that energy drinks contain compounds able to induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in somatic cells. This is significant for public health in nations where people rely on energy drinks for energy boost for their day-to-day activities.


Keywords: Allium Cepa Assay, Cytotoxicity, DNA Damage, Energy Drinks, Genotoxicity.

Download doi https://doi.org/10.70315/uloap.ulbsc.2024.0101005