Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study

Abstract Microplastics become a major contaminant in terrestrial ecosystem and induce a negative impact on soil fauna. The main objective of this study was to check the deleterious effects of polypropylene microplastics on exotic earthworm species Eisenia fetida. Earthworms were treated with differe...

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Main Authors: Babita Thakur, Jaswinder Singh, Joginder Singh, Deachen Angmo, Hardeep Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Jatinderpal Singh, Adarsh Pal Vig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Soil
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00072-1
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author Babita Thakur
Jaswinder Singh
Joginder Singh
Deachen Angmo
Hardeep Kaur
Gurpreet Singh
Jatinderpal Singh
Adarsh Pal Vig
author_facet Babita Thakur
Jaswinder Singh
Joginder Singh
Deachen Angmo
Hardeep Kaur
Gurpreet Singh
Jatinderpal Singh
Adarsh Pal Vig
author_sort Babita Thakur
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Microplastics become a major contaminant in terrestrial ecosystem and induce a negative impact on soil fauna. The main objective of this study was to check the deleterious effects of polypropylene microplastics on exotic earthworm species Eisenia fetida. Earthworms were treated with different concentrations of polypropylene (0, 1000, 4000, 8000, and 16,000 mgkg−1) in artificial soil to know its effect on oxidative stress, biomass and reproduction rate of earthworm. Highest concentrations of polypropylene pose significant negative effects on the biomass and fecundity rate and the effect increases with treatment period. Different antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and Guiacol Peroxidase (POD) activity increase up to 14 days but inhibit the enzymatic activity at 8000 and 16,000 mgkg−1 while POD activity increases with increase in exposure time. The unit activity of different enzymes SOD, CAT and GST on 14th day at 16,000 mgkg−1 is 0.015, 0.074, and 0.097 respectively but on 28th day at similar concentration the unit activity significantly decrease 0.008, 0.058, and 0.045. Highest concentrations of polypropylene i.e. 8000 and 16,000 mgkg−1 were seems to be more relevant for enzyme-interaction with polypropylene. The unit activity of POD enzymes on 7th day at highest concentration (16,000 mgkg−1) is 0.025 and on 28th day at similar concentration the unit activity is 0.035. High concentrations of polypropylene produce oxidative stress on different antioxidant enzymes of E. fetida. Molecular docking study shows the bonding of hydrogen atoms and hydrophobic interactions of PP modulates the activity of all enzymes.
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institution Kabale University
issn 3005-1223
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Springer
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spelling doaj-art-486827f0f5dc4249a07f149b73660f8e2025-08-20T03:45:11ZengSpringerDiscover Soil3005-12232025-06-012111710.1007/s44378-025-00072-1Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity studyBabita Thakur0Jaswinder Singh1Joginder Singh2Deachen Angmo3Hardeep Kaur4Gurpreet Singh5Jatinderpal Singh6Adarsh Pal Vig7Department of Microbiology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional UniversityDepartment of Zoology, Khalsa CollegeDepartment of Botany, Nagaland University, HQRS: LumamiDepartment of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Khalsa CollegeDepartment of Civil Engineering, Thapar Institute of Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Zoology, Baring Union Christian CollegeDepartment of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev UniversityAbstract Microplastics become a major contaminant in terrestrial ecosystem and induce a negative impact on soil fauna. The main objective of this study was to check the deleterious effects of polypropylene microplastics on exotic earthworm species Eisenia fetida. Earthworms were treated with different concentrations of polypropylene (0, 1000, 4000, 8000, and 16,000 mgkg−1) in artificial soil to know its effect on oxidative stress, biomass and reproduction rate of earthworm. Highest concentrations of polypropylene pose significant negative effects on the biomass and fecundity rate and the effect increases with treatment period. Different antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and Guiacol Peroxidase (POD) activity increase up to 14 days but inhibit the enzymatic activity at 8000 and 16,000 mgkg−1 while POD activity increases with increase in exposure time. The unit activity of different enzymes SOD, CAT and GST on 14th day at 16,000 mgkg−1 is 0.015, 0.074, and 0.097 respectively but on 28th day at similar concentration the unit activity significantly decrease 0.008, 0.058, and 0.045. Highest concentrations of polypropylene i.e. 8000 and 16,000 mgkg−1 were seems to be more relevant for enzyme-interaction with polypropylene. The unit activity of POD enzymes on 7th day at highest concentration (16,000 mgkg−1) is 0.025 and on 28th day at similar concentration the unit activity is 0.035. High concentrations of polypropylene produce oxidative stress on different antioxidant enzymes of E. fetida. Molecular docking study shows the bonding of hydrogen atoms and hydrophobic interactions of PP modulates the activity of all enzymes.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00072-1Artificial soilCocoonsEisenia fetidaOxidative stressPolypropylene
spellingShingle Babita Thakur
Jaswinder Singh
Joginder Singh
Deachen Angmo
Hardeep Kaur
Gurpreet Singh
Jatinderpal Singh
Adarsh Pal Vig
Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
Discover Soil
Artificial soil
Cocoons
Eisenia fetida
Oxidative stress
Polypropylene
title Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
title_full Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
title_fullStr Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
title_full_unstemmed Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
title_short Enzyme-microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm: molecular docking and toxicity study
title_sort enzyme microplastic interaction induces oxidative stress in earthworm molecular docking and toxicity study
topic Artificial soil
Cocoons
Eisenia fetida
Oxidative stress
Polypropylene
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-025-00072-1
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