Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 23, 2025
Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
Published on: July 29, 2019
High concentration of MSG alters antioxidant defence system in lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea (Blattodea:
Blessing A Afolabi1,2,3, Olawande C Olagoke4
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600-Anexo, 90035-003, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. blessingafolabi7@gmail.com.
Objective:
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive that has been shown to be toxic to rodents at high concentrations. The available studies in Drosophila melanogaster suggest that MSG toxicity depends on concentration and gender, thus the safety of MSG as a food enhancer still requires further investigation. We have documented impaired locomotor activity and altered oxidative stress markers in cockroaches co-exposed to methylmercury and monosodium glutamate (MSG). We herein examined the susceptibility of Nauphoeta cinerea to high and low concentrations (4% and 1%) of MSG, while monitoring the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity over 30 days.
Results:
There was no significant alteration in the parameters assessed at 1% MSG while 4% MSG caused an increase in the activity of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, with a corresponding reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S-transferase and catalase, suggesting the capacity of MSG to alter redox homeostasis in Nauphoeta cinerea.
