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Comparative toxicity of physiological and biochemical parameters in Euglena gracilis to short-term exposure to potassium sorbate

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Abstract

Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, is a widespread and efficient antioxidant that has multiple functions in plants, traditionally associated with the reactions of photosynthesis; however, it has moderate toxicity to various species including rat, fish, bacteria and human health. The effects of potassium sorbate on the movement and photosynthetic parameters of Euglena gracilis were studied during short-term exposure. Potassium sorbate showed acute toxicity to the green flagellate E. gracilis affecting different physiological parameters used as endpoints in an automatic bioassay such as motility, precision of gravitational orientation (r-value), upward movement and alignment, with mean EC50 values of 2867.2 mg L−1. The concentrations above 625 mg L−1 of potassium sorbate induce an inhibition of the photosynthetic efficiency and electron transport rate and, in concentrations more than 2500.0 mg L−1, the Euglena cells undergo a complete inhibition of photosynthesis even at low light irradiation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) and Foundation for Research and Innovation State of Santa Catarina (FAPESC) for partially supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Master’s and PhD Program in Health and Environment, University of Joinville Region – UNIVILLE, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil

    Fernanda Engel

  2. Department of Pharmacy, University of Joinville Region – UNIVILLE, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil

    Luciano Henrique Pinto & Carmen Diamantina Teixeira Heyder

  3. Inovaparq, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil

    Lineu Fernando Del Ciampo

  4. Department of Biology, University of Joinville Region – UNIVILLE, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil

    Luciano Lorenzi

  5. Neue Str. 9, 91096, Möhrendorf, Germany

    Donat Peter Häder

  6. Department of Medicine and Pharmacy, Master’s and PhD Program in Health and Environment, University of Joinville Region – UNIVILLE, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil

    Gilmar Sidnei Erzinger

  7. Master’s and PhD Program in Biotechnology and Bioscience, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil

    Gilmar Sidnei Erzinger

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  1. Fernanda Engel
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  2. Luciano Henrique Pinto
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Engel, F., Pinto, L.H., Del Ciampo, L.F. et al. Comparative toxicity of physiological and biochemical parameters in Euglena gracilis to short-term exposure to potassium sorbate. Ecotoxicology 24, 153–162 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-014-1367-7

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