Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl and fluzifob-p-butyl herbicides

Abstract

Human populations are exposed to several toxic substances in the environment, including pesticides. Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (FPE) and fluzifob-p-butyl (FPB) herbicides are extensively used in agricultural fields due to their high target selectivity and low non-target toxicity. They are known as aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor. In the study, we aimed to evaluate the toxic potentials of FPE and FPB herbicides. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay in the range of 15.6-500.0 µM exposure concentrations in mouse fibroblast (BALB/3T3) cell line. Also, we investigated their DNA damage potentials on BALB/3T3 cells by using alkaline Comet assay. The results indicated that FPE and FPB showed no evidence of DNA damage. And, the cell viability was more than 20% at 12.5-400 µM exposure concentrations. FPE and FPB might be safe according to our results and the previously studies, and there would be public health benefits from encouraging its use in the place of more toxic herbicide products.