Investigation of the toxicological effects of endoparasitoid Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) venom on insect and mammalian cells

In this study, the genotoxic and oxidative effects of sublethal doses of Pimpla turionellae (L.) (Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae) venom on host insect Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae), and cytotoxic effects of the venom on C6 glioblastoma mammalian cell line were determined. The cytotoxic effects of venom isolated from P. turionella females on glioblastoma cells were determined by MTT and Alamar Blue tests. Sublethal doses and times of venom were determined by injection of parasitoid venom to host pupae. According to the venom doses and incubation times, changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in hemolymph of the host pupae were analyzed and also genotoxic damage in hemocytes of pupae was determined by COMET and Micronucleus (MN) assays. According to the results of the study, the antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of G. mellonella pupae exposed to P. turionellae venom decreased when compared with control and genomic damage in host hemocytes increased at all venom doses. In conclusion, this study shows that endoparasitoid venom has cytotoxic effects on host and mammalian cells.