Biomphalaria alexandrina and Artemia salina as Bioindicators of Glyphosate-Isopropyl Ammonium Herbicide Pollution: Biological, Physiological, and Molecular Docking Studies

Abstract

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide in agriculture that raises biological, environmental, and health problems. It might affect aquatic life and change the quality of water because it is extremely soluble and can enter water bodies through runoff and soil absorption. The present study aims to explore the implications of glyphosate-isopropyl ammonium herbicide on Biomphalaria alexandrina and Artemia salina as bioindicators. Probit analysis was used to detect its sublethal concentrations on these models; then the present investigation studies its deleterious effects on biological and physiological parameters of B. alexandrina with emphasis on its mechanism to inhibit both sexual hormones by molecular docking. Results show that glyphosate herbicide has a molluscicidal activity against B. alexandrina snails with a half lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 14.4 mg/L and was toxic against A. salina with LC₅₀ (19.02 mg/L). It had miracicidal and cercaricidal properties. Snails exposed to LC₁₀ or LC₂₅ of glyphosate herbicide exhibited decreases in survival, fecundity, reproductive rates, testosterone, 17β-estradiol, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities, glycogen phosphorylase, and triglycerides, although levels of malonaldehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glucose, and succinate dehydrogenase levels were elevated compared to the control group. The molecular docking simulation has revealed a potential interaction between the ligand molecule, glyphosate-isopropyl ammonium, with estrogen protein and testosterone at their active receptors. In conclusion, B. alexandrina and A. salina proved to be important ecotoxicological bioindicators for glyphosate-isopropyl ammonium, suggesting that in order to minimize any negative effects on aquatic life, this pesticide needs to be closely monitored and controlled.

Keywords: Artemia salina; Biomphalaria alexandrina; endocrine disruption; glyphosate; oxidative stress.