Assessment of Genetic Damage Induced via Glyphosate and Three Commercial Formulations with Adjuvants in Human Blood Cells.

There is considerable controversy regarding the genotoxicity of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine). It has been suggested that the genotoxicity of this herbicide is increased by the adjuvants added to commercial formulations based on glyphosate. The effect of various concentrations of glyphosate and three commercial glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) on human lymphocytes was evaluated. Human blood cells were exposed to glyphosates of 0.1, 1, 10 and 50 mM as well as to equivalent concentrations of glyphosate on commercial formulations. Genetic damage (p < 0.05) was observed in all concentrations with glyphosate and with FAENA and TACKLE formulations. These two commercial formulations showed genotoxicity that was concentration-dependent but in a higher proportion compared to pure glyphosate only. Higher glyphosate concentrations increased the frequency and range of tail lengths of some migration groups, and the same was observed for FAENA and TACKLE, while in CENTELLA the migration range decreased but the frequency of migration groups increased. We show that pure glyphosate and commercial GBH (FAENA, TACKLE and CENTELLA) gave signals of genotoxicity in human blood samples in the comet assay. The genotoxicity increased in the formulations, indicating genotoxic activity also in the added adjuvants present in these products. The use of the MG parameter allowed us to detect a certain type of genetic damage associated with different formulations.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.) Briq.

Satureja macrostema is a plant that is located in various regions of Mexico and is used in a traditional way against illness. Essential oils (EOs) were obtained from leaves Satureja macrostema and the chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant effect of the oil was assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC). In vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was determined using a broth microdilution assay and thin layer chromatography-direct bioautography (TLC-DB) to identify active antibacterial compounds. The EOs analysis showed 21 compounds, 99% terpenes, and 96% oxygenated monoterpenes, with trans-piperitone epoxide (46%), cis-piperitone epoxide (22%), and piperitenone oxide (11%) as more abundant compounds. Likewise, S. macrostema EOs showed an antioxidant activity of DPPH = 82%, with 50% free radical scavenging (IC50) = 7 mg/mL and TEAC = 0.005, an antibacterial effect against E. coli of 73% inhibition, and 81% over S. aureus at dose of 100 µL of undiluted crude oil. The TLC-DB assay showed that the most active compounds were derived from piperitone. The comparison with other studies on S. macrostema shows variability in the compounds and their abundances, which can be attributed to climatic factors and the maturity of plants with similar antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Antigenotoxic Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Resveratrol in Erythrocytes of Ambystoma mexicanum, Oreochromis niloticus and Human Lymphocytes Exposed to Glyphosate.

Glyphosate is a controversial herbicide. Its genotoxicity and presence in various ecosystems have been reported. The use of ascorbic acid and resveratrol could protect different organisms from glyphosate-induced genetic damage. In the present study, specific genetic damage induced by glyphosate was evaluated in erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus, Ambystoma mexicanum and human lymphocytes. Simultaneously, the antigenotoxic capacity of various concentrations of ascorbic acid and resveratrol was evaluated by means of pretreatment and simultaneous treatment protocols. The 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 mM concentrations of glyphosate induced significant genotoxic activity (p < 0.05) in human lymphocytes and in erythrocytes of the species studied, and could cause genomic instability in these populations. The reduction in genetic damage observed in human lymphocytes exposed to high concentrations of glyphosate is only apparent: excessive genetic damage was associated with undetectable excessive tail migration length. A significant (p < 0.05) antigenotoxic effect of ascorbic acid and resveratrol was observed in all concentrations, organisms and protocols used. Both ascorbic acid and resveratrol play an important role in maintaining the integrity of DNA. Ascorbic acid in Oreochromis niloticus, Ambystoma mexicanum reduced glyphosate-induced genetic damage to a basal level. Therefore, our data indicate that these antioxidants could help preserve the integrity of the DNA of organisms exposed to glyphosate. The consumption of antioxidants is a useful tool against the genotoxicity of glyphosate.

Heterogeneity of Genetic Damage in Cervical Nuclei and Lymphocytes in Women with Different Levels of Dysplasia and Cancer-Associated Risk Factors.

The comet assay can be used to assess genetic damage, but heterogeneity in the length of the tails is frequently observed. The aims of this study were to evaluate genetic damage and heterogeneity in the cervical nuclei and lymphocytes from patients with different levels of dysplasia and to determine the risk factors associated with the development of cervical cancer. The study included 97 females who presented with different levels of dysplasia. A comet assay was performed in peripheral blood lymphocytes and cervical epithelial cells. Significant genetic damage (P ≤ 0.05) was observed only in patients diagnosed with nuclei cervical from dysplasia III (NCDIII) and lymphocytes from dysplasia I (LDI). However, the standard deviations of the tail lengths in the cervical nuclei and lymphocytes from patients with dysplasia I were significantly different (P ≤ 0.0001) from the standard deviations of the tail lengths in the nuclei cervical and lymphocytes from patients with DII and DIII (NCDII, NCDIII and LDII, LDIII), indicating a high heterogeneity in tail length. Results suggest that genetic damage could be widely present but only manifested as increased tail length in certain cell populations. This heterogeneity could obscure the statistical significance of the genetic damage.