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Toxicological Assessment of Glyphosate and its Commercial Formulation Glyphosate Atanor II using the Allium cepa Test

Authors

  • Fernando mañas Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, UNRC
  • Dardo Andrés Roma Laboratorio de Genética y Mutagénesis Ambiental (GeMA), Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1252-4972
  • María Paula Tonini Laboratorio de Farmacología, Departamento de Clínica Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto.
  • Delia Aiassa Laboratorio de Genética y Mutagénesis Ambiental (GeMA), Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5143-1340

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63207/ai.v8i15.131

Keywords:

Glyphosate, Glyphosate Atanor II®, Allium cepa test, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity

Abstract

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicide with systemic action. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of glyphosate and its commercial formulation Glyphosate Atanor II were evaluated using the Allium cepa test. Three concentrations of analytical-grade glyphosate and three of the commercial formulation dissolved in aqueous medium were tested: 480, 1440, and 2400 μg/L. Root length showed a statistically significant dose-response decrease as the concentration of both glyphosate, the active ingredient, and the formulation increased. The Mitotic Index demonstrated a reduction in cell division as the concentration of both compounds increased, with statistically significant differences from the control observed at concentrations of 1440 µg/L and 2400 µg/L for both cases. A reduction in the Mitotic Index was observed in relation to the decrease in root length of bulbs exposed to all treatments. This correlation was statistically significant, with r= 0.9926 and r= 0.9833, for the active ingredient and the commercial formulation, respectively. The Total Aberrations Index in Anaphase/Telophase showed an increase in aberrations as the concentration of glyphosate and its formulation increased, with statistically significant differences from the control observed at concentrations of 1440 µg/L and 2400 µg/L for both compounds. These results highlight the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects that glyphosate, both as an active ingredient and in commercial formulation, can have on the environment and exposed organisms.

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Published

2025-07-30

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mañas, F., Roma, D. A., Tonini, M. P., & Aiassa, D. (2025). Toxicological Assessment of Glyphosate and its Commercial Formulation Glyphosate Atanor II using the Allium cepa Test. Ab Intus, 8(15). https://doi.org/10.63207/ai.v8i15.131

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