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Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baillon an indigenous medicinal plant of Lamiaceae family used for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, its aqueous (leaves) extract was tested for genoprotective action against atrazine-induced chromosomal aberrations in the root tip cells of Allium cepa. Atrazine is a herbicide of triazine class commonly used to inhibit the growth of broad leaf and grassy weeds. In order to find the concentration of atrazine that exhibits maximum toxicity, its different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 µg/mL) were tested. It was observed that 10 µg/mL concentration was more toxic as it reduced the mitotic index and also increased the chromosomal aberrations. Among all the tested concentrations of aqueous (leaves) extracts (0.25. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 µg/mL), the3.0 µg/mL concentration in both modes of experiments i.e. pre and post showed a significant reduction in chromosomal aberrations induced by atrazine. To understand the mechanism of protection by plant extract on atrazine-induced chromosomal abnormalities the RT-qPCR studies were conducted to observe the expression of marker genes Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) (CDKA:1, CDKB2:1 and CDKD1:1. For this, the RNA was extracted from root tips treated with extract along with atrazine by TRIzol®. It was observed that aqueous extract of Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baillon leaves upregulated the CDKs gene expression in both the modes i.e. pre and post treatments. A critical analysis of results indicated that aqueous extract ameliorated the chromosomal aberrations caused by atrazine which may be be due to the increased expression level of CDKs genes.

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There is an unprecedented production of plastic that is accelerating its disposal while affecting the fitness of the terrestrial as well as the aquatic environment. The term microplastics refers to plastic fragments that are less than 5 mm in size and are widely distributed in the environment. Therefore, the present study intends to explore the biological response of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) toward different concentrations of low‐density polyethylene. E. fetida treated with low‐density polyethylene concentration (Control), 250 mg kg−1, 1000 mg kg−1, 6000 mg kg−1, 12,000 mg kg−1, and 25,000 mg kg−1. The above ratios were thoroughly mixed with 1kg of artificial soil and tested for growth, reproduction (cocoons and hatchling count), and enzymatic activities namely superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, and glutathione reductase and molecular docking studies. No mortality was observed during the exposure period at any concentrations. On the 28th day, when compared to the control the highest decrease in body weight of earthworms was observed in 25,000 mg (28.4%) followed by 12,000 mg (12.2%) and 6000 mg (3.4%). The cocoon and hatchlings significantly declined as the dose of microplastics increases. Enzymatic activity such as SOD and POD showed declined trend as the dose increased, while GST and GR increased with an increase in microplastic concentrations on 28th day. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that LDPE can modulate the activity of all four enzymes significantly.

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