title: Comparative toxicity of physiological and biochemical parameters in Euglena gracilis to short-term exposure to potassium sorbate.
abstract: Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, is a widespread and efficient antioxidant that has multiple functions in plants, traditionally associated with the reactions of photosynthesis; however, it has moderate toxicity to various species including rat, fish, bacteria and human health. The effects of potassium sorbate on the movement and photosynthetic parameters of Euglena gracilis were studied during short-term exposure. Potassium sorbate showed acute toxicity to the green flagellate E. gracilis affecting different physiological parameters used as endpoints in an automatic bioassay such as motility, precision of gravitational orientation (r-value), upward movement and alignment, with mean EC50 values of 2867.2 mg L(-1). The concentrations above 625 mg L(-1) of potassium sorbate induce an inhibition of the photosynthetic efficiency and electron transport rate and, in concentrations more than 2500.0 mg L(-1), the Euglena cells undergo a complete inhibition of photosynthesis even at low light irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Master's and PhD Program in Health and Environment, University of Joinville Region - UNIVILLE, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 Campus - Industrial Zone, PO Box 246, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil, fernanda_engel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Luciano Henrique
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Lineu Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Del Ciampo
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: Carmen Diamantina Teixeira
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Heyder
authors.forename: Donat Peter
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Häder
authors.forename: Gilmar Sidnei
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Erzinger
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005056:Euglena gracilis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013011:Sorbic Acid