Potential application of genetically engineered e.coli sm10 s1 luminescent biosensor for evaluating the toxicity of conium maculatum and urtica diocia hydro-alcoholic extract

Shima Shayestehpour,1,* Mansour mashreghi,2

1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract


Introduction

Herbal plants have often been selected for drug development programs. conium maculatum, is used for various types of cancer treatment, and urtica dioica is used to treat anemia, which also increases production of breast milk. medicinal plants will have different effects depending on the dose which is consumed. by using genetic engineering methods, a microbial biosensor can be designed for toxicity testing. this system will be sensitive to various materials that affect the general system of bacteria, especially toxic and mutagenic substances. in this research, the cytotoxicity effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of conium maculatum and urtica dioica on luminescent e. coli sm10 s1 have been studied.

Methods

: e.coli sm10 s1 has been genetically engineered. hydro-alcoholic extract of c. maculatum and u. dioica was prepared by soxhlet method, and various concentrations (0, 001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 %) were prepared. 50 μl of the biosensor were mixed with 450 μl of different concentrations of the extracts and the bioluminescence light was measured by a luminometer.

Results

The results showed a slight increase in light output at 0.001, 0.01% concentration of u.dioica hydro-alcoholic extract and 0.001, 0.01, 0.1% of the c. maculatum extract. however, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1% concentration of u. dioica extract decreased the rate of luminescence slightly which was dose dependent. but c. maculatum hydro-alcoholic extract at concentration of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% caused a sudden and significant reduction in light output independent of dose.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated that luminescent bacterial biosensor can be used for evaluating the potential toxicity of medicinal plant extracts such as c. maculatum and u. dioica.

Keywords

Conium maculatum, urtica dioica, luminescent biosensor, e.coli sm10 s1