An increasing concern for Gemini surfactants (GS) based on the class alkanediyl-α-ω-bis (dimethylalkylammonium bromide) has been reported in ecotoxicological researchbecause of their estrogenic properties causing an alarm to aquatic life. In this study, we analyzed the toxic effects of the synthesized GS (12-2-12 and 16-2-16) leading to histological changes in fingerlings (kidney, gills, intestine, and liver) of Cirrhinusmrigala. Damage in the tissues in correlation with their normal architecture was observed microscopically and was manifold. The tissue-specific morphological alterations associated with somatic index (MAV- mean alteration value) were used as biomarker. The present study also highlighted the changes in the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In order to estimate the sub-lethal toxic properties of GS, the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of GS were evaluated using blood smear assay and HeLa cell line respectively. Results of the study exhibited potential biotoxicity where GS with the highest hydrophobicity showed upper most toxicity level under different exposure time, while GS with less hydrophobic features exhibited least stressful regimeto the tested animal. The prepared GS were also examined for their biodegradability following the die-away method. The theoretical approach estimates the structural information by computational simulation.
Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Biodegradation; Cytotoxicity; Genotoxicity; Histology; Simulation.
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