Detoxification Enzymes of Cataglyphis saviginyi as a Biomarker for Underground Water Pollution at Kafr El-Zayat City, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Hamza Et Al., Yasser I.

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2023.298894

Detoxification Enzymes of Cataglyphis saviginyi as a Biomarker for Underground Water Pollution at Kafr El-Zayat City, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Yasser I. Hamza et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2023.298894

Abstract

Underground water pollution has gained a growing concern in many communities worldwide. Flora and insects are crucial to our ecosystem, and their decline or depletion can have far-reaching consequences. The current study was conducted to investigate the environmental impact of industrial activities on underground water and floral coverage within the major industrial district of Kafr El-Zayat City, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Additionally, it aimed to evaluate the detoxification enzymatic activity of Cataglyphis saviginyi as a pollution biomarker. To achieve these objectives, water samples were collected from the investigated sites to assess heavy metal concentrations. Furthermore, a seasonal specimen of C. saviginyi was collected to investigate the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The current results highlighted the inhibition of GST levels in C. saviginyi at the polluted sites in comparison to the control site. In contrast, AChE activity increased. Consequently, the antioxidant enzymatic activities proved their usefulness as biomarkers for assessing and monitoring environmental contamination.

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