In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity assessment of glyphosate and imazethapyr-based herbicides and their association

ABSTRACT

Resistance to glyphosate herbicide has initiated usage of combined application of herbicides as a weed control measure. Imazethapyr-based herbicides associated with glyphosate herbicide seem to be an alternative to suppress weed resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the adverse effects of Glyphosate Atanor 48® (ATN) and Imazethapyr Plus Nortox® (IMZT) formulations in both single forms and mixtures using HepG₂ cells and zebrafish early-life stages models. Data demonstrated cytotoxicity due to exposure to ATN, IMZT for both models, as follows: (1) ATN (0.5 mg/L), IMZT (5 mg/L), and M3 (0.05 mg/L ATN + 5 mg/L IMZT) increased cytotoxicity by disturbing the mitochondrial activity of HepG₂ cells 24 hr after exposure; (2) ATN and IMZT (5 mg/L), and M3 (0.05 mg/L ATN + 5 mg/L IMZT) also decreased the integrity of the membrane of HepG₂ cells after 24 hr incubation; (3) only ATN and IMZT (5 mg/L) in their single forms diminished the mitochondrial potential of zebrafish; (4) ATN (single form) at 0.5 mg/L induced apoptosis in zebrafish larvae. In conclusion, these herbicides in their single forms appeared to produce greater cytotoxicity to HepG₂ cells and zebrafish compared to the herbicide mixtures.

KEYWORDS:

• Formulations
• mixtures
• cytotoxicity
• HepG₂
• zebrafish

Acknowlegement

The authors thank the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Goias (FAPEG), Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Goias (FAPEG), Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) under Grant [numbers E26/202.256/2018 and E-26/202.759/2017], and to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under Grant [numbers 28/2018 and 465571/2014-0 (INCT – DATREM)], São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [number 2014/50945-4], Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) [number 88887136426/2017/00], for their scholarships and financial support