Biochemical and transcriptomic evaluation of the toxic effects of aloin contaminated agricultural soils on the earth worm Eisenia andrei

In the present study, we investigated the response of oxidative stress markers and related gene expression in worms exposed to Aloe vera crude exudates (aloin) contaminated agricultural soils for 7 and 14 days. Four sublethal concentrations ranging from 10, 50, 100 and 200 g/kg soils (corresponding to 0.125, 0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 g aloins.Kg-1 soils) were tested. Acetyl cholinesterase activity was evaluated to assess the potential neurotoxic effect of aloin. Lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) was evaluated after the exposure periods in worm's coelomocytes as indicator of cytotoxicity. Our data indicated a significant increase in the antioxidant enzyme activities termed as catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and caused a pronounced increase of malonedialdehyde accumulation (MDA). Similarly, LMS was highly affected by aloin particularly at higher concentrations and after 14 days of exposure. Cat and gst, gene expression levels showed a significant increased pattern in animals exposed for 7 and 14 days to the aloin concentrations compared to the control condition. ACHE activity was inhibited in animals exposed to C2, C3 and C4 particularly after 14 days of exposure. Our data provide new insights into the cytotixcity effect of aloe vera crude exudates on the earthworm Eisenia Andrei; one of the principal components of agricultural soil biofertility and sustainability.