Abstract

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO CYTOTOXICITY OF DIMETHOATE ON HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES USING MTT ASSAY

Dr. Daya Shankar Gautam*, Meenal Raikwar, Roshni Soni and Sheeba Begum

Abstract

Dimethoate is an insecticide used to kill a wide range of insects toprotect agricultural crops. Farmers are exposed to it when they spreadit on their crops. Hence to evaluate in vitro cytotoxicity of Dimethoateon human peripheral blood lymphocytes using MTT assay, this studywas performed. Cells were treated with 3μg/ml, 6μg/ml, 9μg/ml,12μg/ml and 15μg/ml of ethanolic solution of the pesticide. Cellstreated with different concentrations of ethanolic Dimethoate for twohours (hrs) exposure showed cell viability range from 96.88% to85.75%. The cytotoxicity was also assessed at 48 hrs exposure. Cellviability % ranged from 67.28% to 57.90%. LC50seemed tobeapproximately 45μg/ml and 15 μg/ml at 2 hrs and 48 hrs exposurerespectively. Cytotoxicity of the pesticide was found to be directlyproportional to the exposure time. Farmers are suggested to wear masks and gloves whileapplying this pesticide in the fields to be safe from its toxicity.

Keywords: Dimethoate Cytotoxicity, Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), MTT assay, Cell viability.