Pollen allergy risk is modified by air pollutants, including ozone, but the chemical modifications induced on pollen grains are poorly understood. Pollen lipidic extract has been shown to act as an adjuvant to the allergenic reaction and therefore, the modification of lipids by air pollutants could have health implications. Birch pollen was exposed in vitro to ozone to explore the reactivity of O₃ on its surface and on its lipidic fraction. Uptake coefficients of ozone were determined for ozone concentration of 117 ppb on the surface of native birch pollen (8.6 ± 0.8 × 10⁻⁶), defatted pollen (9.9 ± 0.9 × 10⁻⁶), and for crushed pollen grains (34±3 × 10⁻⁶). The mass of ozone uptaken was increased by a factor of four for crushed pollen compared to native pollen showing a higher susceptibility to ozone of cytoplasmic granules and broken pollen grains. A total mass of extractible lipids of 27 mg per gram of birch pollen was found and a fraction of these lipids was identified and quantified (fatty acids, alkanes, alkenes and aldehydes). The distribution of lipids was modified by ozone exposure of 115 and 1000 ppb for 16 h with the following reactivity: consumption of alkene, formation of aldehydes and formation of nonanoic acid and octadecanoic acid. The quantity of ozone trapped in the lipidic fraction during 15 min at 115 ppb is enough to contribute to the reactivity of one-third of the alkenes demonstrating that pollen could be susceptible to an atmospheric increase of ozone concentration even for a very short duration complicating the understanding of the link between pollen allergy and pollution.

Exposure to Particulate Matter (PM) could function as an adjuvant depending on the city of origin in mice allergic asthma models. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether inhalation of fine particles (PM2.5) from Mexico City could act as an adjuvant inducing allergic sensitization and/or worsening the asthmatic response in guinea pig, as a suitable model of human asthma. Experimental groups were Non-Sensitized (NS group), sensitized with Ovalbumin (OVA) plus Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) as adjuvant (S + Adj group), and sensitized (OVA) without adjuvant (S group). All the animals were exposed to Filtered Air (FA) or concentrated PM2.5 (5 h/daily/3 days), employing an aerosol concentrator system, PM2.5 composition was characterized. Lung function was evaluated by barometric plethysmography (Penh index). Inflammatory cells present in bronchoalveolar lavage were counted as well as OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE were determined by ELISA assay. Our results showed in sensitized animals without Al(OH)3, that the PM2.5 exposure (609 ± 12.73 μg/m3) acted as an adjuvant, triggering OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE concentration. Penh index increased ∼9-fold after OVA challenge in adjuvant-sensitized animals as well as in S + PM2.5 group (∼6-fold), meanwhile NS + FA and S + FA lacked response. S + Adj + PM2.5 group showed an increase significantly of eosinophils and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage. PM2.5 composition was made up of inorganic elements and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, as well as endotoxins and β-glucan, all these components could act as adjuvant. Our study demonstrated that acute inhalation of PM2.5 acted as an adjuvant, similar to the aluminum hydroxide effect, triggering allergic asthma in a guinea pig model. Furthermore, in sensitized animals with aluminum hydroxide an enhancing influence of PM2.5 exposure was observed as specific-hyperresponsiveness to OVA challenge (quickly response) and eosinophilic and neutrophilic airway inflammation. Fine particles from Mexico City is a complex mix, which play a significant role as adjuvant in allergic asthma.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) -the most widely used herbicides in agriculture worldwide-are frequently generalized by the name of “glyphosate”. However, GBH encompass a variety of glyphosate salts as active ingredient and different adjuvants, which differ between products. These herbicides reach water bodies and produce diverse impacts over aquatic communities. Yet, the risk assessment assays required for the approval focus mostly on active ingredients. Herein, we compared the effect of five different GBH as well as of monoisopropylamine salt of glyphosate (GIPA) on aquatic microbial communities from natural shallow lakes that were mixed and allowed to evolve in an outdoor pond. We performed an 8-day long assay under indoor control conditions to evaluate the effects of exposure on the structure of nano-plus microphytoplankton (net phytoplankton, with sizes between 2 and 20 μm and >20 μm, respectively) and picoplankton (size ranging between 0.2 and 2 μm) communities through microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. Significantly different effects were evident on the structure of microbial communities dependent on the GBH, even with herbicides sharing similar active ingredients. Each GBH evoked increases of different magnitude in bacterioplankton abundance. Furthermore, GIPA and a formulation decreased the abundance of a phycocyanin-rich (PC-rich) picocyanobacteria (Pcy) cytometric population and GIPA further altered Pcy composition. Also, two GBH increased net phytoplankton total abundance and, unlike the tested GBH, no apparent effect of GIPA was detected on this community structure. These results demonstrate that GBH effects on aquatic microbial communities should not be summarized as “glyphosate” effects considering that the formulations have effects beyond those exerted by the active ingredients alone. This work intends to alert on the lack of real knowledge regarding the consequences of the variety of GBH on natural aquatic ecosystems. Indeed, the wide use of the term “glyphosate effect” should be thoroughly rethought.

Glyphosate-based herbicides, the most extensively used herbicides in the world, are available in an enormous number of commercial formulations with varying additives and adjuvants. Here, we study the effects of one such formulation, Credit41, in two genetically diverse yeast strains. A quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis between a sensitive laboratory strain and a resistant strain linked mitochondrial function to Credit41 resistance. Two genes encoding mitochondrial proteins identified through the QTL analysis were HFA1, a gene that encodes a mitochondrial acetyl CoA carboxylase, and AAC3, which encodes a mitochondrial inner membrane ATP/ADP translocator. Further analysis of previously studied whole-genome sequencing data showed that, although each strain uses varying routes to attain glyphosate resistance, most strains have duplications of mitochondrial genes. One of the most well-studied functions of the mitochondria is the assembly of Fe–S clusters. In the current study, the expression of iron transporters in the transcriptome increased in cells resistant to Credit41. The levels of iron within the cell also increased in cells exposed to Credit41 but not pure glyphosate. Hence, the additives in glyphosate-based herbicides have a significant contribution to the negative effects of these commercial formulations on biological systems.

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the world’s most consumed agrochemicals, and they are commonly used in various agroecosystems, including forests, as well as in urban zones and gardens. These herbicides are sold as formulations containing adjuvants. Other tank-mixing adjuvants (most often surfactants) are commonly added to these formulations prior to application. According to the manufacturers of agrochemicals, such tank mixes (as these are known in agronomic and horticultural practice) have modified properties and perform better than do the herbicides as used alone. The effects of these tank mixes on the environment and on beneficial arthropods are almost unknown. Therefore, we studied whether a herbicide formulation mixed with adjuvant has modified effects on one of the most common genera of ground-dwelling wolf spiders vis-à-vis the herbicide formulation and adjuvants themselves. Specifically, we studied the synergistic effect in the laboratory on the predatory activity (represented by the number of killed flies) of wolf spiders in the genus Pardosa after direct treatment using the glyphosate-based herbicide formulation Roundup klasik Pro®, Roundup klasik Pro® in a mixture with the surfactant Wetcit®, Roundup klasik Pro® in a mixture with the surfactant Agrovital®, and the surfactants alone. We found that pure surfactants as well as herbicide-and-surfactants tank mixes significantly decrease the predatory activity of Pardosa spiders in the short term even as Roundup klasik Pro® did not itself have any such effect. Our results support the hypothesis that plant protection tank mixes may have modified effect on beneficial arthropods as compared to herbicide formulations alone. Therefore, testing of pesticide tank mixes is highly important, because it is these tank mixes that are actually applied to the environment.

Glyphosate-based herbicides include active matter and adjuvants (e.g. polyethoxylated tallow amines, POEAs). In addition to a previous investigation on the effect of glyphosate on oysters, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposures (35days) to three concentrations (0.1, 1 and 100μgL−1) of Roundup Express® (REX) and POEAs on oysters belonging to the same age group. Low mortality rates were calculated, and only few significant differences (i.e. shell length) between exposure conditions were observed at a given date. However, when comparing the biomarker's temporal variations, some different patterns (e.g. condition index, reproduction, parameters of oxidative stress) were observed depending on the molecules and concentrations. These results suggest that a longer exposure to an environmental concentration (0.1μgL−1) of REX and POEAs could induce harmful effects on oysters.

Coastal weeds are often treated with herbicides without knowledge of non-target impacts, and toxicity data from standardized test species can have limited applicability. We evaluated toxicity to invertebrates from Fusilade Forte® and the adjuvant Hasten® in the control of invasive salt marsh grass, Spartina anglica. For 3 of 4 local invertebrates, Fusilade Forte® was moderately toxic (96h LC50 5.4–144mgL−1), whereas Hasten® was less toxic (14.2–450mgL−1). For most species, the mixture was more toxic than the herbicide alone, with 96h LC50 reduced 23–45%. However, a field experiment applying typical concentrations (1000×the lowest 96h LC50) showed low concentrations of herbicide residues and no detrimental impacts on invertebrates over 6months. The results reveal the importance of testing locally relevant species for potential toxicity, and of comparison tests with field exposures to determine the realised toxicity in nature.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune complaint. Advanced treatments resort to the traditional herbal therapy. The aim of this study is to assess the protective effect of Costus extract on the fertility of male rats with Freund’s adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty male adult Wistar rats (190–200 g) were divided into six groups. They were subdivided into three groups; group I was the control group that received distilled water, and groups II and III received two various doses of Costus extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively) for 60 days. Another three groups were subjected to RA induction via Freund’s adjuvant. Rats were injected a dose of 0.1 ml of Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) in the planter area of the left hind paw and then subdivided into 3 groups. Group I of RA-induced rats were given distilled water. The other two groups were given orally (200 and 400 mg/kg dosage of extract, respectively) from the 2nd day of RA induction for 60 days. Sex organ relative weight, sperm concentration assay, testicular histopathology and immunohistochemistry of androgen receptors, TNF α, and BAX protein were determined. The results showed that RA caused a significant decrease in the relative weight of sex organs and sperm count, which were relatively improved by doses of Costus (200, 400 mg/kg). RA induction caused testicular degeneration which markedly enhanced with Costus treatment as shown in histopathological sections. RA caused a reduction in %IHC of androgen receptors and increased expression level of both TNF α and BAX protein. Using IHC, it was revealed that RA caused a reduction in the expression level of androgen receptors and an increase in the expression of both TNF α and BAX protein. We can conclude that Costus speciosus had a potentially valuable role in improving fertility disorders caused by RA.

Heavy metals, chemical elements considered toxic at certain concentrations, can be considered potential threats to plants, animals, and biological resources of a particular ecosystem. Among them, mercury and aluminum, when involved in bioaccumulation processes, can cause damage to various organ systems of both animals and plants. In vegetables, heavy metals produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are involved in the occurrence of malformations and deficits in the growth of roodets and plumule of several species of plants, which justifies the study of natural antioxidant agents that may come to reverse or ameliorate the deleterious effects caused by these compounds. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of hydroethanolic extract of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart., species popularly known as “barbatimão” against the heavy metals mercury and aluminum in vegetable model, because of its known antioxidant potential. To this end, there was the cytoprotection test in microbial and lettuce seeds (germination) in order to ascertain the potential of the said extract on the protection of roots and stem this. It was observed that the extract showed no allelopathic effect on lettuce seeds at a concentration of 32 μg/mL and in combination with HgCl₂ and AlCl₃, it enabled a higher growth in the roodets and stem Lactuta sativa L. These results demonstrated that the extract of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium can be an alternative to solve the problem with soil contamination by heavy metals, showing thus its promising potential cytoprotective in plant species.