Cytotoxicity of glyphosate studied in selected human cell lines

Introduction: Glyphosate is a phosphonate herbicide that has been used for 35 years, and it is still the most widely used herbicide in the world. The development of modern methods of in vitro toxicological analysis and the obvious increase in exposure to glyphosate have made it an increasingly studied xenobiotic. The widespread use of pesticides, especially glyphosate, causes large amounts to be released into the environment, where they pose a threat to entire ecosystems.

Methods: In our research, we focused on the best research model from the point of view of toxicology, in which human cell lines were used in order to test the cytotoxicity of glyphosate. The tested concentrations of this compound reflected the level of human exposure to this active substance and ranged from 0.01mM to 10mM. The analyzes were conducted on the human cell lines: MCF-7, T98G and DLD-1. In order to estimate the cytotoxicity of this herbicide, an MTT assay was used.

Results: A significant increase in cancer cell viability was observed under the influence of the studied concentrations of glyphosate. The effect was significant, especially under the influence of the lower concentrations studied.

Conclusion: The obtained results indicate the carcinogenic and tumor cell-stimulating effects of glyphosate. This indicates the need for the prudent use and monitoring of glyphosate in the environment due to its potentially hazardous effects on human health.