Genotoxicity potentials of anionic and cationic amino acid-based surfactants

To understand the genotoxic consequences of chemical agents, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as a useful biomarker to be used as an investigation tool for environmental toxicology. In this study, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a toxic anionic surfactant, and glutamic acid-based cationic bicatanar surfactant (GS) was used as less toxic cationic amino acid-based surfactant. Experimental results show significant correlations between the RAPD profile changes with root growth, mitotic activity and chromosomal aberration test. The inhibitory rates of root growth at 400 ppm of SDS and GS were 85% and 32%, respectively. Mitotic activity results showed a drastic decrease in SDS exposures, whereas there was no significant decrease in GS treatment. Comparison of the chromosomal aberration test results, rates were indicated at 100, 200 and 400 ppm of SDS and GS; 10, 17, 26 (SDS) and 6, 9, 9 (GS) consequently. Also DNA alterations started at 100 and 200 ppm during SDS and GS exposures, respectively. These preliminary findings encourage the utilization of GS as an environmental friendly surfactant detected by these tools in the investigation of genotoxicity potentials of SDS and GS on maize and the other crops.