Ethephon, an organophosphorous, a Fruit and Vegetable Ripener: Has potential hepatotoxic effects?

Abstract

Introduction:In the recent years, ethephon, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, is one of the most commonly used plant growth regulators. At present, it is being used on fruits, vegetables, and cereals for promoting pre- and post-harvest ripening. The effect of artificial ripening has become questionable because of various health-related issues. This study was conducted to note the morphology of liver after ethephon administration as it is the site where chemicals undergo first pass metabolism and probably will be affected by ethephon. Materials andMethods:Adult Wistar albino rats were divided into experimental and control groups (10 each). Ethephon was administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day by a gavage tube in the experimental rats for 14 days. The animals were sacrificed within 24 h of the last dose; liver was dissected and processed for light microscopy. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were studied using an image-pro express analyzer. The data obtained from control and experimental groups were statistically analyzed.Results:In the experimental rats, the body weight was found to be significantly decreased. The orderly arrangement of hepatocytes was disrupted and was replaced by blood-filled sinusoids. At sites, hepatocytes appeared to be degenerated. Councilman bodies with pyknotic nuclei and inflammatory infiltrations were seen. The population per unit area of the hepatocytes and Kupffer cells was 29.53 ± 10.65 versus 44.18 ± 10.31 and 25.12 ± 4.41versus 13.05 ± 6.5 in experimental and control groups, respectively. The decrease of hepatocytes and increase of Kupffer cells were found to be statistically significant.Conclusions:The observations in the liver are probably indicative of degenerative changes associated with ethephon. Hence, we can conclude that this plant growth regulator, Fruit and Vegetable Ripener, has hepatotoxic potential. General awareness and regarding the use of such plant growth regulators is must to reduce the intake.

Induced Ripening Agents and Their Effect on Fruit Quality of Banana

“…There is a possibility of converting ethephon into ethylene oxide, then to ethanediol and hydroxyethyl-glutathione and mercapturic acid. Further it has been studied that it can inhibit the growth Streptomyces and their antibiotic production [52]…”

Exogenously-Sourced Ethylene Positively Modulates Photosynthesis, Carbohydrate Metabolism, and Antioxidant Defense to Enhance Heat Tolerance in Rice

“…Several chemicals can be used as stand-ins for ethylene [35], of which a widelyused example is the organophosphorus compound ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, Cl-CH 2 -CH 2 -PO 3 H 2 ). It is applied to plants in the form of a mist or sprayand penetrates through the stomata and cuticles to the apoplastswhere, at pH 5.0 and above, it decomposes to form ethylene, chloride, and phosphate [36,37]. The ethylene so released affects the treated plant's physiological processes, enhancing growth and photosynthesis, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant production, and stomatal opening under different abiotic stresses [38][39][40][41].…”

Combating Spring Frost With Ethylene

“…As ethephon-based PGRs are widely used in today’s fruit production practices, none of them are explicitly labeled as generic bloom-delaying agents for fruit trees in general. Recently, ethephon has been suggested to be potentially hepatotoxic (Bhadoria et al, 2018), and this may further limit the scope of its use.…”