Cytotoxic evaluation of certain insect growth regulators and insect sex pheromones in cho-k1 cells

ABSTRACT

The cytotoxic effects of Diflubeizuron, pyriproxifen as insect growth regulators, ZZ/ZE-7,11-hexadecadienyl acetate, Z-9- hexadecenal and Z-11-hexadecenal as insect sex pheromones were evaluated in vitro using Chinese hamster ovary [CHO-K1] cells. Total cellular protein [TCP] content and methyl tetrazolium [MTT] assays were carried out using serum free medium and medium supplemented with fetal calf serum [FCS, 10%], bovine serum albumin [BSA, 1%] and/or metabolic activation system [S9-mix]. All the tested compounds displayed cytotoxic effects that rise with time exposure. TCP assay exhibited higher sensitivity than MTT assay with all the tested compounds. In presence of the added extracellular proteins and/or metabolic activation system [S9-mix], the cytotoxic effects significantly decreased which indicate that the tested agents may be binding non-specifically with protein and extensive metabolized to less toxic metabolites