Graphene Nanoparticle and Ruta graveolens L.: Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Analyses

Abstract Graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) present potential due to their properties. Despite their promising applications, their effects need to be investigated. The Allium test is a bioassay that uses onion (Allium cepa) as a model organism to investigate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of GNPs and the effect of their combination with rue (Ruta graveolens L.) extract on the test organism (A. cepa). A germination test was conducted using onion seeds in different solutions: crude rue extract, a solution containing GNPs, and a combination of rue extract and GNPs at different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 mg. L⁻¹). A negative treatment using glyphosate was also evaluated. For the germination test, the parameters analyzed were the germination speed index, first count, germination percentage, and root length; for the genetic test, the parameters were the mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations (CA). Both GNPs and R. graveolens L. extract proved effective in promoting the germination of A. cepa in both treatments, with and without glyphosate. However, GNPs increased the CA index. The use of the plant extract mitigated the toxic effects caused by the nanoparticle. The combination confirmed this mitigation by reducing the CA index compared to the solution containing only GNPs.