Does Flour Infested with Stored Grain Insects Causes Cytotoxicity of Human Skin and Lungs Cells?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center

2 Tissue Culture Unit, VACSERA

Abstract

In the present study two different cell cultures, derived from human skin melanocyte (HFB4) and Human Lung Fibroblast (ATCC) (WI-38) were used to examine. Three insects from two orders; Lepidoptera: Ephestia kueniella and Coleoptera: Trogoderma granarium & Tribolium castaneum were reared to study. Lung cells were the most sensitive than melanocyte. T. castaneum was recorded the most cytotoxicity than other insects in general. T. castaneum was the higher toxic in melano cells while T. granarium was the higher toxic in lung cells. However, morphological changes in treated cells were observed compared to non treated cells.
Our results indicate that grains and its products infested with stored grain insects caused toxic and death to cells which it exposure.

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