Comparative evaluation of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and non – microsomal oxidases in Galatea paradoxa exposed to varying concentrations of ‘uproot’ a glyphosate-based herbicide

This study comparatively evaluated antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and non – microsomal oxidases in Galateaparadoxa (GP) exposed to varying concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicide uproot. Twenty GP were equally divided into 4 groups ( n = 5). Group A was control (no glyphosate exposure) while groups B, C, and D were exposed to 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, and 30 mg/L of uproot a glyphosate-based herbicide, respectively, for 21 days. At the end of the exposure, the soft tissue of GP was harvested from the shell, homogenized in ice-cold phosphate buffer (0.02 M; pH 7.2), and the supernatant was used to analyse the biochemical parameters employing standard laboratory methods. Results showed elevated (p < 0.05) activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase with respect to increasing concentration of glyphosate exposure. The concentration of nitric acid and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s –transferase and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated (p < 0.05) in exposed GP as compared with the control proportionate to the concentration of glyphosate exposure. The results also indicated that the reduced glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity of exposed GP increased (p < 0.05) at 10 mg/L and 30 mg/L glyphosate exposure as compared with the control group. Again, glyphosate exposure did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and also did not cause changes in the activities of monoamine and sulphite oxidases. Taken together, these results support the possibility of uproot (the glyphosate herbicide) altering the antioxidant defense system in GP and may provide insights into monitoring the ecological consequences which may result from the indiscriminate use of glyphosate in our farmlands and these antioxidant enzymes employed as biomarkers of environmental contamination.