Evaluating the combined estrogenic effects of plant growth regulators via electrochemical and E-Screen methods†

Abstract

The study shows that plant growth regulators (PGRs) have estrogenic effects, which may disrupt the normal physiological functions of endogenous estrogen in organisms. This study used electrochemical methods to investigate the electrochemical behavior and estrogenic effects of PGRs gibberellic acid (GA₃), ethylene (ETH), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on estrogen-free human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cells when exposed individually or in combination. The results indicate that GA₃, ETH, and NAA, whether used alone or in combination, exhibit estrogenic effects on MCF-7 cells. The accuracy of the electrochemical method was validated against the E-Screen method, with consistent results between the two methods. Analysis of the combined estrogenic effects of PGRs detected by electrochemical and E-Screen methods revealed antagonistic effects for GA₃/ETH, synergistic effects for GA₃/NAA, additive effects for NAA/ETH, and synergistic effects for GA₃/ETH/NAA. The combined estrogenic effects of PGRs at environmental actual concentration ratios detected by the electrochemical method were consistent with the results of the E-Screen method. This study successfully established a simple, fast, sensitive, and low-cost electrochemical detection method for the combined estrogenic effects of PGRs, providing a new approach for detecting such effects.