ABSTRACT
Pendimethalin, one of the dinitroaniline group herbicides, is applied for controlling weeds in cereals, legumes and vegetable crops, and has been classified as possible human carcinogen. It is indicated that pendimethalin should arise risks of developing some cancer types; however, there is no data on the effects of pendimethalin on pancreatic cancer-induced inflammation. Injuries resulting from by acute pancreatitis attacks and inflammation are significant factors in the development of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether pendimethalin triggers inflammation as a mechanism of pancreatic cancer development. Parameters related to pancreatic activation, oxidative stress, and inflammation were measured in the human pancreatic (PANC-1) cell line. In the range of 0-100 µM, the levels of chymotrypsin decreased. It should be indicated that the reason for the decrease in chymotrypsin may be the high rates of cell death (20%) observed in the high concentration levels. We observed that pendimethalin significantly induced oxidative damage, while levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) did not change. The obtained results may draw attention to the usage and possible toxic effect of pendimethalin due to oxidative damage induction; however, detailed inflammation mechanisms and other cancer pathways should be investigated.
Subject(s)
Aniline Compounds/toxicity , Carcinogens/toxicity , Herbicides/toxicity , Pancreatic Neoplasms/chemically induced , Acute Disease , Carcinogens/metabolism , Herbicides/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Pancreas/metabolismABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) has been commonly used to energize, vitalize, and improve sexual function and physical performance in men. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the potential cytotoxic and genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting activities of T. terrestris in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The whole T. terrestris plant was extracted with water, methanol, and chloroform. The genotoxic potential of T. terrestris extracts at 3-2400 µg/mL was assessed by Comet assay in a rat kidney cell line (NRK-52E) and by Ames assay in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains. Endocrine disrupting effects of the extracts at concentrations of 0.22-25 000 µg/mL were assessed by YES/YAS assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cytotoxic activity of the extracts was determined by the MTT test in NRK-52E cells. The different exposure times were used for four tests (3-48 h). RESULTS: The methanol extract of T. terrestris IC50 value was 160 µg/mL. The other extracts did not show cytotoxic effects. In the Comet and Ames genotoxicity assays, none of the extracts possessed genotoxic activities at concentrations of 0-2400 µg/mL. Only the water extract of T. terrestris induced frame shift mutations after metabolic activation. The water extract also showed estrogenic activity by YES/YAS assay in S. cerevisiae at concentrations ≥27 µg/mL (≥2.6-fold), while the other T. terrestris extracts had anti-estrogenic properties. CONCLUSION: Tribulus terrestris had estrogenic and genotoxic activities. The study was useful in determining its toxicological effects and the precautions regarding consumption.
Subject(s)
DNA Damage , Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Mutagens/toxicity , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Tribulus/toxicity , Animals , Cell Culture Techniques , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Comet Assay , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Endocrine Disruptors/isolation & purification , Estrogen Receptor alpha/genetics , Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism , Humans , Mutagens/isolation & purification , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , Rats , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/drug effects , Salmonella typhimurium/drug effects , Salmonella typhimurium/genetics , Transfection , Tribulus/chemistryABSTRACT
Bentazone, a benzothiadiazole herbicide, is widely used for a variety of crops including cereals, maize, peas, rice and soy beans. The concern for human health is stil very high because bentazone is continuously monitored in environment and several studies to evaluate its potential carcinogenic effects when chronic and high doses were administered to animals. We aimed to investigate the possible effects of bentazone on lipid peroxidation, levels of glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes in human erythrocytes in vitro. For that, erythrocyte were incubated with bentazone in different concentrations (0-50 nM) at 37 °C for 1 hr. Bentazone showed significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) at the highest concentration in erythrocytes as an index of lipid peroxidation. Besides, alterations in the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were observed while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) were unchanged. In conclusion, findings from this study indicate that in vitro toxicity of bentazone may be associated with oxidative stress and this work warrants further in vivo investigations.
