Onion cytotoxicity

Ding, L. et al. (2005) Molecular characterization of the cytotoxic mechanism of multiwall carbon nanotubes and nano-onions on human skin fibroblast. Nano Letters, 5 (12), 2448-64. 

The experiment with 0.5 g/mL of erode extracts of different parts of Allium plants (bulb, green leaf, white stalk) showed the inhibition of acrosin and trypsin activities, mostiy the red onion and garlic extracts. These results demonstrated that spermicidal effect of Allium extracts is determined also by their capacity of protease inhibition. The red onion extract shows the higher antioxidant capacity and a very low cytotoxicity. 

Fig. 41.4 Cytotoxicity induced by different concentrations of 0.5 g/mL (a) red onion and (b) garlic bulb extract (0.1-10%) (v/v) from the initial 0.5 g/mL culture medium mean value SD). The absorbance at 570 obtained for control was considered 100%. The results for the treated cells were expressed as percentage from the control, untreated culture...

The tests for in vitro biocompatibility were performed on normal cells (Vero) and tumor cells (glioblastoma). No cytotoxicity was detected in cells (normal or tumor) cultured with red and white onion extracts at low concentrations (between 0% and 1%), the cell viability being aronnd 90%. At higher concentration, the viability decrease slowly at 80% (Fig. 41.4a). On the other hand, garlic extracts indnce toxicity both on normal and tnmor cells at very low concentrations (Fig. 41.4b). 

Protective effect of broccoli, onion, carrot, and licorice extracts against cytotoxity of N-nitrosamines evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. J AgrEoodChem 1998 46(2) 585-589. DCl 17 DC 105 Kiuchi, F. Studies on the nematocidal constituents of natural medicines. Nat Med 1995 49(4) 364-372. 

Effect of Different Heating Processes on Cytotoxic and Free Radical Scavenging Properties of Onion Powder... 

L. Ding, J. Stilwell, T. Zhang, O. Elboudwarej, H. Jiang, J. R Selegue, P. A. Cooke, J. W. Gray, and F. F. Chen, Molecular characterization of the cytotoxic mechanism of multiwall carbon nanotubes and nano-onions on human skin fibroblast. Nano Lett. 5(12), 2448-64 (December, 2005). 

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