In vitro genotoxicity study of the lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide on Sf9 insect cells line using Comet assay

Abstract

The Synthetic Pyrethroid Lambda-cyhalothrin is one of the most common and used pesticides worldwide for pest control. Its application has resulted in serious environmental hazards and health concerns and has led to the development of resistant pest populations. There are few studies of insecticide toxicity and genotoxicity on insects; therefore, in this study, we evaluated the potential genotoxic activity of Lambda-cyhalothrin using the single-cell microgel electrophoresis or comet assay (the alkaline comet assay) on Sf9 insect cell line. Four different concentrations of Lambda-cyhalothrin were used (0.5, 5, 25, and 100 μm) to treat Sf9 cells for 24 h. UVC (for 45 min) was used as a positive control. The results showed that Lambda-cyhalothrin induced a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in Sf9 insect cell line compared with negative control (p < 0.05), except at the 5 μm concentration. UVC induces oxidative stress as Lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide. Lambda-cyhalothrin was more genotoxic than UVC on the Sf9 cell line. This may suppose that Lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide has other genotoxic effects on the Sf9 insect cell line than what is known.