The benefit of using in vitro bioassays to screen agricultural samples for oxidative stress: South Africa’s case

Abstract

Applied pesticides end up in non-target environments as complex mixtures. When bioavailable, these chemicals pose a threat to living organisms and can induce oxidative stress (OS). In this article, attention is paid to OS and the physiological role of the antioxidant defense system. South African and international literature was reviewed to provide extensive evidence of pesticide-induced OS in non-target organisms, in vivo and in vitro. Although in vitro approaches are used internationally, South African studies have only used in vivo methods. Considering ethical implications, the authors support the use of in vitro bioassays to screen environmental matrices for their OS potential. Since OS responses are initiated and measurable at lower cellular concentrations compared to other toxicity endpoints, in vitro OS bioassays could be used as an early warning sign for the presence of chemical mixtures in non-target environments. Areas of concern in the country could be identified and prioritized without using animal models. The authors conclude that it will be worthwhile for South Africa to include in vitro OS bioassays as part of a battery of tests to screen environmental matrices for biological effects. This will facilitate the development and implementation of biomonitoring programs to safeguard the South African environment.

Keywords:

• Antioxidant enzymes
• catalase
• environmental matrices
• lipid peroxidation
• pesticides
• mammalian tissue cultures
• reactive oxygen species
• superoxide dismutase

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Funding

The financial support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa in the form of a bursary (grant number: 121713) and research support (grant number: 146150) are hereby acknowledged. Project funding provided by the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa (project number: C2020/2021-00195) is also acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the authors and are not necessarily to be attributed to the DST, NRF and/or WRC.