Toxicogenetic study of omeprazole and the modulatory effects of retinol palmitate and ascorbic acid on Allium cepa

Fate of pharmaceutical residue in two Romanian rivers receiving treated water: Occurrence, distribution and risk assessment

This study presents the first set of data on the removal of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (HRAs) and their transformation products in two Romanian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as the impact of these organic pollutants on freshwater receiving effluents. The research investigated eight target pharmaceuticals and three metabolites using a newly developed and validated Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The combined determination had a range of quantification limits varying from 0.13 ng/L to 0.18 ng/L for surface water and from 0.28 ng/L to 0.43 ng/L for wastewater. All analytes except cimetidine and 5-hydroxy-omeprazole were identified in water samples. The study found similar overall removal efficiencies for both WWTPs (43.2 % for Galati and 51.7 % for Ramnicu-Valcea). The research also showed that ranitidine and omeprazole could pose a low to high ecological risk to aquatic organisms. The findings suggest that the treatment stages used in the two Romanian WWTPs are insufficient to remove the target analytes completely, leading to environmental risks associated with the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in effluents and freshwater.

Chemometric modeling of pharmaceuticals for partitioning between sludge and aqueous phase during the wastewater treatment process

Computational techniques, such as quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs), can play a significant role in exploring the important chemical features essential for the degree of sorption or sludge/water partition coefficient (Kd) towards sewage sludge of wastewater treatment process to evaluate the environmental consequence and risk of pharmaceuticals. The current research work aims to construct a predictive QSPR model for the sorption of 148 diverse active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in sewage sludge during wastewater treatment. For the development of the model, we employed easily computable 2D descriptors as independent variables. The model has been developed following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) guidelines. It has undergone internal and external validation using a variety of methodologies, as well as been tested for its applicability domain. A measure of hydrophobicity, i.e., MLOGP2, showed the most promising contribution in modeling the sorption coefficient of APIs. Among other parameters, the number of tertiary aromatic amines, the presence of electronegative atoms like N, O, and Cl, the size of a molecule, the number of aromatic hydroxyl groups, the presence of substituted aromatic nitrogen atoms and alkyl-substituted tertiary carbon atoms were also found to be influential for the regulation of solid water partition coefficient of APIs during the wastewater treatment process. The statistical validity tests performed on the developed partial least squares (PLS) model showed that it is statistically evident, robust, and predictive (R2Train = 0.750, Q2LOO = 0.683, Q2F1 = 0.655, Q2F2 (or R2Test) = 0.651). In addition, the predictivity of the constructed model was further inspected by using the "prediction reliability indicator" tool for 14 external APIs.

Toxicity Analysis of Some Frequently Used Food Processing Chemicals Using Allium cepa Biomonitoring System

Frequent use of various food processing chemical agents sometimes causes damage to our bodies by inducing cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenesis. In Bangladesh, among various chemical agents, formalin, saccharin, and urea are vastly used for processing foodstuffs by industry and local people. This study is focused to assess the toxic effects of formalin, saccharin, and urea on the popularly used eukaryotic test model, Allium cepa L. The assay was carried out by exposing different concentrations of test samples to A. cepa at 24, 48, and 72 h, where distilled water and CuSO₄·5H₂O (0.6 µg/mL) were utilized as the vehicle and positive control, respectively. The root length of the onions was measured in mm, and the results propose that all the chemical agents demonstrated toxicity in onions in a concentration- and exposure-time-dependent manner. The highest root length was examined at the lower concentrations, and with the increase in the concentration of the test sample and exposure time, the RG (root growth) was inhibited due to the deposition of chemicals and hampering of cell division in the root meristematic region of A. cepa. All the chemical agents also revealed a concentration- and time-dependent adaptive effect up to 72 h inspection of 24 h and a depletion of % root growth at 72 h inspection of 48 h. Our study suggests that sufficient precautions should be confirmed during its industrial and traditional usage as a toxicological response to the chemical agents observed in the A. cepa assay.

Evaluation of mutagenesis, necrosis and apoptosis induced by omeprazole in stomach cells of patients with gastritis

BACKGROUND

Gastritis is a superficial and prevalent inflammatory lesion that is considered a public health concern once can cause gastric ulcers and gastric cancer, especially when associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, are the most widely used drugs to treat this illness. The aim of the study was evaluate cytogenetic effects of omeprazole in stomach epithelial cells of patients with gastritis in presence and absence of H. pylori, through cytogenetic biomarkers and catalse and superoxide dismutase analysis.

METHODS

The study included 152 patients from the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic of Hospital Getúlio Vargas, Teresina-Brazil, that reported continuous and prolonged omeprazole use in doses of 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg. The participants were divided into groups: (1) patients without gastritis (n = 32); (2) patients without gastritis but with OME use (n = 24); (3) patients with gastritis (n = 26); (4) patients with gastritis undergoing OME therapy (n = 26); (5) patients with gastritis and H. pylori (n = 22) and (6) patients with gastritis and H. pylori on OME therapy (n = 22).

RESULTS

OME induced cytogenetic imbalance in the stomach epithelium through the formation of micronuclei (group 6 > 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; group 5 > 1, 2, 3; group 4 > 1, 2, 3); bridges (groups 4 and 6 > 1, 2, 3, 5 and group 2 > 3, 5); buds (groups 2,4,6 > , 1, 3, 5); binucleated cells (group 6 > 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; group 4 > 1, 2, 3); (groups 2 and 3 > 1); picnoses (group 6 > 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), groups 2 and 5 > 1, 3; group 4 > 1, 2, 3, 5); cariorrexis (groups 6 and 4 > 1, 2, 3, 5; groups 2, 3, 5 > 1) and karyolysis (groups 2, 4, and 6 > 1, 3, 5; groups 3 and 5 > 1). The OME cytogenetic instability was associated with H. pylori infection, indicating clastogenic/aneugenic effects, chromosomes alterations, gene expression changes, cytotoxicity and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The cytogenetic changescan be attributed to several mechanisms that are still unclear, including oxidative damage, as observed by increased catalase and superoxide dismutase expresion. Positive correlations between antioxidant enzymes were found with micronuclei formation, and were negative for picnoses. Thus, the continuous and prolonged omeprazole use induces genetic instability, which can be monitored through cytogenetic analyzes, as precursor for gastric cancer.

Heterogeneous photocatalysis of moxifloxacin at a pilot solar compound parabolic collector: Elimination of the genotoxicity

Photocatalysis has been applied for the elimination or reduction concentration of emerging pollutants in water. One of them, is the moxifloxacin (MOX), a fluoroquinolone that have a potential to develop resistant bacteria and have been present toxicity. The MOX achieves the environment due to inefficient wastewater treatment and incorrect disposal. Aiming to find a sustainable solution for photocatalytic process, compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) reactors have been proposed. In this sense, the present study investigates the application of CPC reactor for the degradation of MOX using sunlight and artificial light (UV-A lamp). In addition, the acute toxicity for L. sativa seeds and A. cepa bulbs, as well as the MOX cytotoxicity and genotoxicity for A. cepa root were investigated before and after treatment. The MOX degradation was around 65% using the sunlight and 44% with the artificial light. This difference was due to the kind of incident radiation (direct and diffuse), as well as the type of radiation (visible and/or ultraviolet) used in the processes. For L. sativa the acute toxicity was eliminated after MOX treatment using sunlight. A. cepa root length increased before the treatment and reduced significantly after it, what can indicate hormesis occurrence. MOX cytotoxicity was not observed. In contrast, genotoxicity assays showed high frequency of chromosomal aberrations for MOX solution, indicating elevated genotoxicity that was eliminated after solar treatment. The transformation products of MOX after CPC reactor solar treatment did not show cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in A. cepa and acute toxicity in L. Sativa. The results indicates that photocatalysis in a CPC solar reactor is efficient for MOX toxicity removal in the treated solutions.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Asiatic Acid, a Triterpene from Centilla asiatica L: A Review

BACKGROUND

Centilla asiatica L is a medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. Asiatic Acid (AA), a triterpene and a known component of this herb, has been shown to display important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant, hepatoprotective, pancreas protective, and cardio- protective.

OBJECTIVE

This review focuses on AA's anti-cancer effects on the basis of published literature found in a number of databases such as PubMed and Science Direct. Emphasis has been given to the mechanisms of action of its anti-cancer effect.

METHODS

A literature survey was conducted using known databases such as PubMed and Science Direct using the keywords 'Asiatic acid', pairing with 'cancer', 'tumor', 'anti-cancer effect', 'cytotoxic effect', 'anti-tumor activity', 'cell line', 'animal cancer', and 'human cancer'.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that AA exerts anti-cancer effects in several test systems through various pathways, including oxidative/antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death, necrosis, anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of proliferation and cell migration, and chemoprevention.

CONCLUSION

AA may be an effective plant-based cancer chemotherapeutic agent and a promising lead for the development of potent anticancer drugs.

The environmental risks of pharmaceuticals beyond traditional toxic effects: Chemical differences that can repel or entrap aquatic organisms

The aim of the present study was to assess the risks of four different pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs; diazepam, metformin, omeprazole and simvastatin). Acute and chronic toxicities were studied using the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata; while the repellency and attractiveness were assessed by avoidance tests with juvenile Cypirinus carpio using a multi-compartmented exposure system. Omeprazole was found to be an acutely toxic drug (EC₅₀: 0.015 mg/L), while the other PhACs, except simvastatin, showed some chronic toxicity. Regarding avoidance, simvastatin and omeprazole induced an escape response for 50% of the fish population at 0.032 and 0.144 mg/L, respectively; contrarily, diazepam was attractive, even at lethal concentrations, representing a dangerous trap for organisms. The toxicity of the PhACs seemed not to be directly related to their repellency; and the mode of action seems to determine the repellency or attractiveness of the chemicals. Contamination by PhACs is of concern due to the environmental disturbance they might cause, either due to their acute and chronic toxicity (at the individual level), repellency (at the ecosystem level: loss of local biodiversity) or attraction to potentially lethal levels.

Determination of malathion's toxic effect on Lens culinaris Medik cell cycle

The present study aimed to determine the toxic effect of malathion pesticide on root growth, cell division and the chromosomal abnormalities frequency using the L. culinaris test. Initially, the lentil seeds were subjected to different doses of malathion (0.0 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mgL^-1) and during 24, 48, and 72 h, the root length was measured. Subsequently, at 72h, the mitotic index, mitotic inhibition, and cellular abnormalities were calculated for all treatments. According to the obtained results, it was visualized that the root growth was inversely proportional to the concentration of malathion at all times of exposure. After 72h of exposure, the lowest values of the mitotic index and inhibition were presented at malathion concentrations 20, 25 and 30 mgL^-1. Additionally, micronuclei cell abnormalities, metaphase sticky chromosomes, split chromosomes, nuclear lesions, irregular anaphase, anaphase bridges, binucleated cells, absence of nucleus and telophase bridge were observed. Finally, Malathion induced mitodepressive and cytotoxic effects in the meristematic cells of the L. culinaris root tip. A high frequency of abnormality was found in the micronuclei, which represented an indicator of a high degree of toxicity at the cellular level.

Cytogenotoxic effect of propanil using the Lens culinaris Med and Allium cepa L test

Propanil can produce methemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia, hepatotoxicity, metabolic disorder and nephrotoxicity. It also has a genotoxic effect, although it is not listed as a carcinogen and it continues to be applied excessively throughout the world. Consequently, in this study the cytogenotoxic effect of propanil was evaluated, using apical root cells of Allium cepa and Lens culinaris. In which, L. culinaris seeds and A. cepa bulbs were subjected to 6 treatments with propanil (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mg L^-1) and to distilled water as control treatment. Subsequently, the root growth was measured every 24 h for 3 days. Next, the mitotic index and cellular anomalies were determined. Whereby, decreased root development was observed in all treatments. Likewise, greater inhibition of mitosis was evidenced in L. culinaris compared to A. cepa. In addition, chromosomal abnormalities, such as nucleus absence, sticky chromosomes in metaphase and binucleated cells, were present in most of the treatments. Thus, the presence of micronuclei and the results of L. culinaris, indicate the high cytogenotoxicity of propanil and the feasibility of this species as bioindicator.

Antitumoral effects of [6]-gingerol [(S)-5-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-decanone] in sarcoma 180 cells through cytogenetic mechanisms

BACKGROUND

[6]-Gingerol [(S)-5-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-decanone] is a phenolic substance reported for several ethnopharmacological usage by virtue of its antioxidant, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. This study assessed the antitumoral effects of [6]-Gingerol in primary cells of Sarcoma 180 as well as in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice.

METHODS

The effect of [6]-Gingerol was assessed by applying cytogenetic biomarkers as indicative of genotoxicity, mutagenicity and apoptosis. Ascitic liquid cells were treated with [6]-Gingerol at concentrations of 21.33, 42.66 and 85.33 μM and subjected to the cytotoxicity assays using Trypan blue test and the comet assay, as well as the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Doxorubicin (6 μM) and hydrogen peroxide (85.33 μM) were used as positive controls.

RESULTS

[6]-Gingerol, especially at concentrations of 42.66 and 85.33 μM, showed notable cytotoxicity in Sarcoma 180 cells by reducing cell viability and cell division rates via induction of apoptosis. Genotoxicity at the concentrations used was punctuated by the increase in the index and frequency of DNA damage in tested groups. [6]-Gingerol, at all concentrations tested, did not induce significant aneugenic and/or clastogenic effects. It did, however, induced other nuclear abnormalities, such as nucleoplasmic bridges, nuclear buds and apoptosis. The genotoxic effects observed in the cotreatment with H₂O₂ (challenge assay) employing neoplastic and healthy cells, indicated that [6]-Gingerol may induce oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Observations suggest that [6]-Gingerol may be a candidate for pharmaceutical antitumoral formulations due to its cytotoxicity and to mechanisms associated with genetic instability generated by nuclear alterations especially by apoptosis.