Evaluation of the toxic potential of ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) on Hydra vulgaris

The effect of EMS at final concentration of 0.09, 0.18, 0.27 and 0.37 mM was studied on <i>Hydra vulgaris</i> using morphological, regeneration, oxidative stress markers and DNA damage as parameters. The morphological scores showed a significant dose dependent difference in the <i>Hydra</i> exposed to 0.18, 0.27, and 0.37 mM of EMS for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The regeneration scores also showed a significant difference in the gastric region of <i>Hydra</i> exposed to 0.37 mM of EMS for 48 h. A significant difference in the scores of regeneration was observed for the mid body portion exposed to 0.18, 0.27 and 0.37 mM of EMS for 72 and 96 h of duration compared to control. A dose-dependent significant increase in the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was observed compared to control. The thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels were also significantly increased compared to control. The genotoxic damage was assessed in the cells of gastric region of the <i>Hydra</i> exposed to 0.09, 0.18, 0.27 and 0.37 mM of EMS for 48 h by performing comet assay. A significant dose-dependent increase in the DNA damage was observed compared to control.