Determination of the protective role of Zingber officinale extract against induced toxicity

Pesticides can have toxic effects on non-target organisms in addition to its positive effects on yield and product quality. In this study, the toxic effects induced by permethrin insecticide on Allium cepa and the protective role of Zingiber officinale extract (Zoex) against these toxic effects were investigated. In this context, 6 different groups were formed. While the control group was treated with tap water, Group II and Group III were treated with 10µg/mL Zoex and 20µg/mL Zoex, respectively, Group IV was treated with 100µg/L mg permethrin. The protective feature of Zoex against permethrin toxicity was investigated depending on the dose, and Group V and Group VI formed for this purpose were germinated with 10µg/mL Zoex+100µg/L permethrin and 20µg/mL Zoex+100µg/L permethrin, respectively. After 72 hours of germination, cytogenetic, biochemical and anatomical changes in meristematic cells of A. cepa were investigated. Physiological evaluation was made by examining the germination rates, root elongation and weight gain in bulbs. As a result, it was determined that permethrin application decreased the mitotic index in root tip cells and increased the frequency of micronucleus and chromosomal abnormalities. Increase in malondialdehyde levels, decrease in glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels in root tip cells indicate that permethrin causes oxidative damage. Compared to the control group, a decrease of 68,5% in root elongation and 81,8% in weight gain were detected in the permethrin applied group. All these abnormalities followed a parallel course with the changes in root anatomy. Abnormalities such as epidermis cell damage, flattened cell nucleus, cortex cell damage, thickening of the cortex cell walls and indistinct vascular tissue were detected in permethrin-treated root tip cells. It was determined that the application of Zoex together with permethrin provided regression in all detected abnormalities, a decrease in the frequency of anatomical damage, and an improvement in MI rates. The most significant improvement was found in Group VI treated with 20µg/mL Zoex, and Zoex was also found to exhibit dose-dependent protection. And also toxicity mechanism of permethrin was elucidated with molecular docking studies. From the data obtained as a result of the study, it was determined that permethrin causes toxic effects on A. cepa, which is a non-target organism, while Zoex plays a protective role by reducing these effects.