Toxicity of commercial neem extract to earthworms (Pheretima peguana)
Abstract
The LC₅₀ of commercial neem extract (Sadao Thai III containing azadirachtin; NEEM) on filter paper in the earthworm Pheretima peguana at 48 h and 72 h was 3.79 and 3.33 µg cm⁻², respectively. In earthworms exposed to five NEEM concentrations from 0.39 (∼10% of 48-h LC₅₀) to 3.13 (∼80% of 48-h LC₅₀) µg cm⁻², the radial thickness of the epidermis and body wall significantly (P < .05) decreased, and thickness of intestinal epithelium increased but only at high doses, approximately 25-fold above the concentration permitted for use as an insecticide in field applications (0.09 µg cm⁻²). NEEM significantly (P < .05) increased the number of binucleated coelomocytes in the micronucleus test (detects chromosomal aberrations) at 3.13 µg cm⁻², approximately 35-fold higher than the recommended dose, but it did not cause coelomocyte DNA single-strand breaks in the comet assay. Thus, NEEM is cytotoxic (increase in binucleates through the inhibition of cytokinesis) but not genotoxic to earthworm coelomocytes. This study demonstrates that the recommended dosage of commercial neem extract as an insecticide in agricultural practices is safe for earthworms.... [Show full abstract]
Keywords
neem; earthworms; Pheretima peguana; toxicity; coelomocytes; insecticideFields of Research
0503 Soil Sciences; 060808 Invertebrate Biology; 079902 Fertilisers and Agrochemicals (incl. Application)Date
2011Type
Journal ArticleCollections
© 2011. P. Muangphra and R. Gooneratne. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.