Allium cepa Bioassay as an Assessment Tool in Toxicology with Special Emphasis on Environmental Toxicity Assessments

Allium cepa has emerged as a valuable model organism for toxicity testing, offering a viable alternative to animal testing worldwide. It is regarded as an efficient bioindicator for genotoxicity testing, primarily due to its rapid root growth rate and the presence of relatively few large chromosomes. The use of A. cepa is highly sought after because of its cost-effectiveness, widespread availability, and ease of handling, demonstrating a strong correlation with mammalian test systems. In this review, we emphasize the diverse applications of the A. cepa bioassay in environmental assessments. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and ResearchGate with the keywords “Allium cepa, bioassay, environmental assessments, and toxicity testing” over the period of February to April 2024. This search initially yielded 131 articles, which were subsequently narrowed down to 31 relevant studies that specifically assessed the use of A. cepa as an evaluation tool. The findings reveal the applicability of the A. cepa bioassay in a variety of environmental assessments, including toxicity testing of pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial effluents, as well as monitoring pollution effects and water quality. Additionally, the review discusses chemical testing across a wide spectrum, from pesticides to azo dyes, food preservatives, and hydrocarbons, highlighting various industrial applications. This synthesis of current literature underscores the utility of the A. cepa bioassay in contributing to environmental monitoring and pollution control.