Assessment of the toxicity and genotoxicity of the natural anthraquinone alizarin in Mytilus spp.

• Grant number: 23/18005-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 30, 2024
• End date: October 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro
• Grantee: Amanda Rocha Rodrigues
• Supervisor: Pedro Manuel Broa Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia (FT). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/07768-3 - Toxicity and mutagenicity of the natural dye alizarin, BP.IC

Abstract

Alizarin (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone) is an anthraquinone usually extracted from the Rubia tinctorum plant. From this plant it is also possible to extract madder, a dye widely used in fabric dyeing, which has mostly alizarin in its composition. Alizarin can reach the aquatic ecosystem through the discharge of effluents from the textile industry. Studies in the literature have reported acute toxic effects of alizarin on the aquatic plant Lemna gibba, phytoplankton and zebra fish (Danio rerio). In addition to aquatic toxicity, alizarin showed mutagenicity using the Ames test and was carcinogenic in tests carried out on rats. However, data on the toxicity, genotoxicity and possible mutagenicity of alizarin in estuarine and marine organisms are scarce, including in species widely used in biomonitoring such as the bivalves Mytilus spp. These are recognized ecotoxicological models due to their economic and environmental importance, being sensitive to toxic compounds, as well as being easy to cultivate in the laboratory. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of alizarin on Mytilus using acute aquatic toxicity tests, histopathological assays and evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers, as well as assessing genotoxicity in vivo using the comet assay.