The Effect of Niclosamide on Certain Biological and Biochemical Properties of Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT Objective: Laboratory research on management strategies such as biological and chemical control usually demands rearing high numbers of high-quality insects. For this reason, there is a need for detailed information about which antimicrobial agents should be added to their diets in order to obtain high quality insects. Materials and methods: Niclosamide, which is an anthelmintic derivative of salisilanilid, was added in amounts of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L into artificial diets of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen). The effects on survival rate, developmental time and adult longevity of the insects were examined. Furthermore, the effect of this anthelmintic antibiotic on important oxidative stress indicators; lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein oxidation products; protein carbonyl (PCO) contents and a detoxification enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in 3rd instar larvae, pupae and adult stage of the insect were also investigated. Results: Compared with those insects on the control diet, the tested concentrations of niclosamide significantly decreased survival rate in all developmental stages of the insect. The control diet produced 94.0 ± 1.0 % of 3rd stage larvae whereas in the highest concentration (800 mg/L) this ratio decreased to 14.00 % ± 1.73. While 42.08 ± 0.50 % of the adults survived in the control diet, longevity decreased to 2.30 ± 0.15 days in the highest concentration. All concentrations of niclosamide resulted in increased MDA contents in the last larval stage of D. melanogaster and concentrations of 100, 200 and 800 mg/L niclosamide increased pupal MDA content in comparison to the control group. At low concentrations of niclosamide, PCO decreased in the last stage of larvae.  The diet with 400 mg/L niclosamide concentration significiantly increased GST activity in pupal stage. Conclusion: The results of this work indicated that the negative effects of niclosamide on biological characteristics of D. melanogaster are due to an increase in the oxidative stress and crippled detoxification capacity of the insect.