Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

JuteNanocrystalline Cellulose Relieves PolystyreneNanoplastic-Induced Acute Injuries by Modulating Gut Microbiota Gilliamella apicola

Researchers showed that jute-derived nanocrystalline cellulose (JNCC) alleviates polystyrene nanoplastic toxicity in honeybees by modulating the gut microbiota, particularly preserving Gilliamella apicola abundance, and improving bee survival.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Jute Nanocrystalline Cellulose Relieves Polystyrene Nanoplastic-Induced Acute Injuries by Modulating Gut Microbiota Gilliamella apicola

Researchers discovered that jute-derived nanocrystalline cellulose can alleviate the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics in honey bees by modulating their gut microbiota. The study showed that this natural plant-based nanomaterial reduced nanoplastic-induced injuries including tissue damage and cell death, suggesting a potential strategy for mitigating nanoplastic toxicity in important pollinator species.

2025 ACS Nano 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota protects honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) against polystyrene microplastics exposure risks

Researchers found that honey bees with intact gut microbiota were significantly more resilient to polystyrene microplastic exposure than bees with disrupted gut communities. The gut microbiota helped reduce oxidative stress and maintained immune function in bees exposed to microplastics. The study suggests that a healthy gut microbiome may serve as a natural defense mechanism against the harmful effects of microplastic ingestion in pollinators.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 203 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano- and micro-polystyrene plastics disturb gut microbiota and intestinal immune system in honeybee.

Honeybees orally exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics showed disrupted gut microbiota and impaired intestinal immune function, with nanoplastics causing greater effects than microplastics. Since honeybees are critical pollinators for food production, microplastic contamination in their environment could affect both bee health and agricultural systems.

2022 The Science of the total environment
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics reduce honeybee survival by disrupting gut microbiota and metabolism

Honeybees exposed to polystyrene microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations showed reduced survival rates, damaged gut walls, and disrupted gut bacteria and metabolism. The microplastics accumulated in the bees' guts, causing oxidative stress and shifting the microbial community toward harmful species. Since honeybees are essential pollinators for many food crops, microplastic threats to bee health could have indirect consequences for agriculture and human food security.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Association of specific gut microbiota with polyethylene microplastics caused gut dysbiosis and increased susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens in honeybees

Honeybees fed polyethylene microplastics (the type used in food packaging) showed disrupted gut bacteria and became more vulnerable to disease-causing pathogens. The larger 100-micrometer particles caused the most harm, physically damaging the gut lining and displacing beneficial bacteria. This research demonstrates how microplastic contamination in the environment can weaken important pollinator species by compromising their gut health and immune defenses.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different microplastic types and co-exposure on the survival of Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806) and its associated microbial communities

Researchers fed honey bees three types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate) individually and in combination, and found that all treatments significantly reduced bee survival compared to controls. The combination of all three microplastic types had the strongest negative effect, and the gut microbial community showed time- and treatment-specific shifts that may represent an initial compensatory response to maintain functional stability.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics sequester the toxicity mitigating potential of probiotics by altering gut microbiota in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers tested whether probiotic pretreatment could protect grass carp from the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on gut health. While probiotics initially boosted immune responses and reduced intestinal damage, the protective effect was not strong enough to fully counteract nanoplastic toxicity over time. The study suggests that nanoplastics can undermine the gut health benefits of probiotics by disrupting the balance of gut bacteria.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of nano-polystyrene on cyfluthrin toxicity in honeybee Apis cerana cerana Fabricius

Researchers found that nano-polystyrene plastics damaged the gut and gland development of Asian honeybees, while also changing how the bees process toxins at the genetic level. When combined with the pesticide cyfluthrin, the nanoplastics altered detoxification and immune gene activity in complex ways. Since honeybees are essential pollinators for food crops, the toxic effects of nanoplastics on bee health could have indirect consequences for human food security.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of partial reduction of polystyrene micro-nanoplastics on the immunity, gut microbiota and metabolome of mice

This mouse study examined whether partial gut degradation of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affects immune markers, gut microbiota, and metabolome, finding that nanoplastic exposure produced distinct immune and microbial changes compared to microplastic exposure. Notably, different exposure doses shifted the key bacterial species stabilizing gut microbial networks.

2023 Chemosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability

Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria, the kind used in yogurt and fermented foods, can reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in mice. The bacteria worked by physically binding to the plastic particles and by repairing damage to the gut lining and restoring healthy gut bacteria populations. This suggests that probiotics could be a practical way to help protect the digestive system from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure through food and water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Could probiotics protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics?

This review examines whether probiotics could help protect against the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in the body. Researchers found evidence that probiotic bacteria may counteract plastic-induced gut imbalances, reduce inflammation, and support intestinal barrier function. The study suggests that probiotics represent a promising area of research for mitigating some of the biological effects of microplastic exposure, though more human studies are needed.

2023 Frontiers in Nutrition 24 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Probiotics as Modulators of Microplastic-induced Toxicity: A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that probiotics can reduce microplastic-induced toxicity in animal models by restoring gut microbiota balance, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammatory responses. The findings suggest that probiotic supplementation may help mitigate the harmful effects of unavoidable microplastic exposure, though human clinical trials are still needed.

2025 Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
Article Tier 2

Anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of royal jelly against polystyrene microplastic-induced testicular injury in mice.

Royal jelly — a natural bee product — protected mouse testes from damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing programmed cell death. This points to potential protective nutritional strategies against reproductive harm from microplastic ingestion, though results in mice need to be verified before drawing conclusions about human health.

2024 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Perturbation of gut microbiota plays an important role in micro/nanoplastics-induced gut barrier dysfunction

Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt gut barrier function in mice, finding that different surface chemistries caused varying levels of damage. The study suggests that these plastic particles harm the gut by altering the gut microbiome, which then leads to inflammation and weakening of the intestinal barrier that normally keeps harmful substances out of the body.

2021 Nanoscale 198 citations
Article Tier 2

Dysregulation of the microbiota-brain axis during long-term exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics in rats and the protective role of dihydrocaffeic acid

Researchers exposed rats to low doses of polystyrene nanoplastics over 24 weeks and observed disruptions in the gut-brain connection, including changes in gut bacteria, intestinal damage, and altered brain function. A natural compound called dihydrocaffeic acid showed protective effects against these nanoplastic-induced harms. The study suggests that long-term nanoplastic exposure may disrupt the communication between gut microbes and the brain, with potential implications for neurological health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Quercetin intervention mitigates small intestinal damage and immunologic derangement induced by polystyrene nanoplastics: Insights from multi-omics analysis in mice

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables, protected mice from gut damage and immune system disruption caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. The nanoplastics damaged the small intestine and disrupted immune balance, but quercetin reversed much of this harm by restoring healthy gut bacteria and gene activity. This suggests that dietary compounds like quercetin might help counteract some negative health effects of nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Therapeutic Benefits of Nano-Echinacea Extract on Reproductive Injury Induced by Polystyrene Plastic Materials in Rat Model via Regulating Gut–Brain Axis

Researchers investigated whether nano-formulated Echinacea extract could protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in a rat model. The study found that the nano-Echinacea treatment provided therapeutic benefits against nanoplastic-induced reproductive injury by modulating the gut-brain axis, suggesting that natural plant-based interventions may help counteract some harmful effects of plastic particle exposure.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of long-term polystyrene microplastic exposure on gut microbiota, antioxidant capacity, and digestive enzyme activities in Thamnaconus septentrionalis

Researchers exposed filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis) to 1 and 5 µm polystyrene microplastics for 30 days and examined gut microbiota, antioxidant capacity, and digestive enzymes. Both particle sizes disrupted gut microbial diversity and reduced antioxidant defenses, with smaller particles generally causing more pronounced effects.

2025 Israeli Journal of Aquaculture - Bamidgeh
Article Tier 2

The role of gut microbiota in mediating increased toxicity of nano-sized polystyrene compared to micro-sized polystyrene in mice

This mouse study found that nano-sized polystyrene plastics were significantly more toxic than micro-sized ones, causing greater gut inflammation, liver damage, and metabolic disruption. The key difference was driven by how each size affected gut bacteria: nanoplastics caused a more severe shift toward harmful bacteria and away from beneficial ones. The findings suggest that the smallest plastic particles may pose the greatest health risk because they more dramatically disrupt the gut microbiome.

2024 Chemosphere 19 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of a polystyrene nanoplastic on the intestinal microbes and oxidative stress defense of the freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Researchers tested the acute effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on freshwater crayfish and found that exposure altered the composition of intestinal bacteria and disrupted oxidative stress defenses. Higher concentrations of nanoplastics led to more severe changes in gut microbial diversity and antioxidant enzyme activity. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastic pollution can harm the gut health and immune defenses of freshwater organisms.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Maltol attenuates polystyrene nanoplastic-induced enterotoxicity by promoting AMPK/mTOR/TFEB-mediated autophagy and modulating gut microbiota

Researchers found that maltol, a natural food flavoring compound, can protect against intestinal damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in mice. Maltol worked by activating cellular cleanup processes (autophagy) and restoring the balance of gut bacteria disrupted by nanoplastic exposure. The study suggests that dietary compounds like maltol could potentially help mitigate some of the gut health effects associated with nanoplastic ingestion.

2023 Environmental Pollution 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZP-6 mitigates polystyrene nanoplastics-induced liver damage in colitis mice via the gut-liver axis

The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZP-6 mitigated polystyrene nanoplastic-induced liver injury in an animal model through multiple mechanisms including toxin binding, barrier enhancement, and anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting probiotics as a potential strategy for reducing nanoplastic health impacts.

2025 Frontiers in Microbiology
Article Tier 2

A probiotic for preventing microplastic toxicity: Clostridium dalinum mitigates microplastic-induced damage via microbiota-metabolism-barrier interactions

Using metagenomics and metabolomics, this study found that the probiotic bacterium Clostridium dalinum reduced microplastic-induced gut damage in mice by modulating gut microbiota composition, metabolic pathways, and intestinal barrier integrity.

2025 Current Research in Food Science