Erythrocyte membrane protein damage by phenoxyacetic herbicides and their metabolites

In the present work, we describe the effect of chlorophenoxyl herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), and their metabolites (2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chloro-2-methylphenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol) on the activity of ATPase and the corresponding protein damage (measured by loss of -SH group). Basic compounds caused an increase in the activity of the enzyme by 7-9% (at concentration 1 mM). For higher concentrations (2 and 4 mM), a decrease in the ATPase activity was observed for all investigated compounds. The increase of the free -SH group content was observed for all compounds. More profound changes in investigated parameter values were observed for metabolites (when compared to basic compounds) which may suggest their higher toxicity.