Evaluation of the genotoxic activity of wastewater obtained after steam distillation of essential oil of Bulgarian Rosa alba L. – in vivo study

Abstract

The process of essential oil water-steam distillation leaves a water fraction as a rest material of the technological process. This residual fraction represents a serious  environmental pollutant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the  clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of R. alba L. distillation wastewater in laboratory  animal's test model in vivo. The ICR mice received a single dose (0.01 mL/b. w.) of  20% (v/v) or 11% (v/v) wastewater solution by intraperitoneal administration. The  chromosomal aberrations frequency, mitotic index and micronuclei formation in  peripheral blood were scored. The results suggested that the distillation  wastewater extracts of white oil-bearing rose R. alba L. did not induce a considerable amount of chromosome aberrations, but a cell proliferation inhibition  in mice bone marrow cells, compared to the negative control group  (p<0.001). The rodent erythrocyte MN assay showed a slightly increased frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes under the present experimental  conditions. Rosa alba L. wastewater solution applied showed a negligible genotoxic  effect, but a slight antiproliferative effect.