Combined effect of glyphosate, saccharin and sodium benzoate on the gut microbiota of rats

Abstract

Glyphosate is the main component of many broadly used herbicides due to its safety for humans and animals. It is known that the remains of glyphosate are present in allowable doses in fodders and food products, and, consumrd in low doses, it is found in insignificant amounts in milk, eggs and even in the internal organs (liver, kidneys) of animals. For determining combined impact of glyphosate and the commonest food additives on the composition of microbiota of animals, four groups of laboratory male rats were formed, which during 42 days consumed pure water without any restrictions; 1% aqueous solution of glyphosate; 1% solution of glyphosate in combination with 1% solution of sodium benzoate; 1% solution of glyphosate with 1% solution of saccharin. After killing the animals, 1 g of feces were collected and by serial dilutions with 10–1 to 10–9 sterile physiologic solution, a microbiological analysis was undertaken. Out of each dilution an inoculation of the studied material to the elective growth media was performed, by 0.1 cm3, then the material was incubated in a thermostat (24–72 hours, temperature 37 °С), the results were recorded after 24–72 h. The microorganisms were identified by studying morphological parameters, tinctorial, cultural and enzymic properties. Results are provided in CFU/g (colony-forming unit per gramm) of feces. The impact of glyphosate and glyphosate with food additives led to no changes in the number of Escherichia coli and emergence of this species of microorganism with changed enzymic activity. Also no changes occurred in the number of microorganisms of Bifidobactrium and Lactobacillus spp. Addition of glyphosate, and also glyphosate in combination with saccharin to the diet contributes to broader reproduction of microorganisms of Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas genera. Mixtures of glyphosate and food additives allow conditionally pathogenic yeast-like Candida fungi (Candida glabrata and C. albicans) to spread more widely in the intestine. Significant fluctuations in the number of Enterococcus spp. bacteria genus were observed: by 80 times within range of each of the three experimental groups of rats with addition of herbicide with benzoate and saccharin to the diet.

Indirect Effects of the Herbicide Glyphosate on Plant, Animal and Human Health Through its Effects on Microbial Communities

“…and Candida sp. were isolated more frequently from their feces than from control rats, while populations of commensal bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were unaffected (Bilan et al, 2019).…”

Plausible Biological Interactions of Low- and Non-Calorie Sweeteners with the Intestinal Microbiota: An Update of Recent Studies

“…Some herbicides, which are considered nowadays safe, can change the gut microbiota of animals in the early stages of embryonic development. Indeed, exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate in combination with saccharin contributes to the broader reproduction of pathogenic bacteria such as Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas [43]. On the other hand, studies show that saccharin administration can also disrupt monolayer integrity and alter paracellular permeability in a Caco-2 cell monolayer model [44].…”

Hematological parameters and protein metabolism in the blood of pregnant rats under the effect of vanadium citrate

“…Effects of the plants we tested on the organism of rats were both direct and indirect: by inhibiting certain species of microorganisms in the intestine of animals (Bilan et al, 2019). In our earlier experiments, ethanol extract from M. officinalis powerfully inhibited growth of colonies of bacteria of Salmonella typhimurium, poorly inhibited such of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Corinebacterium xerosis, and caused no effect on Proteus mirabilis, Listeria monocytogenes and fungus of Candida albicans (Zazharskyi et al, 2019).…”