Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity Study of E-Cigarettes Using Vigna Radiata (Mung Bean) as Plant Bioassay

The purpose of this study was to examine the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of flavourless and flavoured e-cigarettes liquid (50% propylene glycol:50% vegetable glycerine, with no nicotine salt) by using mung bean as a plant bioassay. Healthy seeds of mung bean were exposed to flavoured and flavourless e-cigarette liquid with concentrations of 0%, 10%, 15% and 25% (v/v). The genotoxic and cytogenetic impacts of the applied flavour and concentrations were assessed using mung bean as a plant bioassay, based on microscopic and macroscopic observations, which expressed as mitotic index, chromosomal abnormalities percentage, survival percentage, germination percentage, germination rate, plant growth rate, plant height, and root growth rate. Overall, flavoured and flavourless e-liquids reduced the survival percentage, germination percentage, germination rate, plant growth rate, plant height, and root growth rate of mung bean. However, observation shows flavoured e-liquid severely affects the mean plant growth rate, plant height and root growth rate compared to flavourless e-liquid. The treatment of both flavoured and flavourless e-liquids reduced mitotic index (MI). Percentage of chromosomal aberration was also increased in the dividing cells of mung bean root tips regardless of the type of flavours. Chromosome clumping and C-mitosis were the most common abnormalities found, and chromosomal bridge was the highest aberration at anaphase meanwhile anaphase stickiness was occasionally observed in the mung bean root tip dividing cells. growth. It is concluded that the morphological differences observed are probably due to the result of cytology and genomic disturbances caused by the treatment induced to the mung bean seeds.