Accumulation characteristics and biological response of ginger to sulfamethoxazole and ofloxacin

Transport mechanisms of the anthropogenic contaminant sulfamethoxazole in volcanic ash soils at equilibrium pH evaluated using the HYDRUS-1D model

The volcanic soils in Chile, where a significant portion of agricultural activities take place, are impacted by the presence of veterinary drugs, including sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The study examines how different soil types influence the movement and retention of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) across four regions of Chile, focusing on conditions at a neutral pH of 7.0. Collipulli's Ultisol soils (CLL), characterized by high clay and sand content but low organic matter (OM), promote low SMX adsorption and rapid transport. In contrast, the volcanic ash-derived Andisols from Frutillar (FRU), Nueva Braunau (NBR), and Osorno (OSR) have high OM and cation exchange capacity (CEC), which enhance their ability to retain SMX and reduce its mobility. Adsorption batch, kinetics, and column breakthrough curve (BTC) experiments were conducted alongside transport modelling. The adsorption kinetics of SMX in CLL soil followed a pseudo-first-order (PFO) model, while FRU, NBR, and OSR soils aligned with a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model. Freundlich isotherms effectively described SMX adsorption in CLL and OSR soils, indicating multilayer adsorption, while Langmuir isotherms fit the FRU and NBR soils, suggesting monolayer adsorption. Using HYDRUS-1D software, we simulated SMX transport in soil columns. BTCs were best modelled using a two-site sorption model with both equilibrium and kinetic adsorption. SMX was more mobile in CLL soil due to its lower organic matter (OM) content and adsorption capacity. In contrast, FRU, NBR, and OSR soils showed slower transport, reflecting higher OM content and greater adsorption capacity, reducing SMX leaching. These findings emphasize the importance of soil properties, such as OM content, in influencing SMX behavior, and are vital for assessing environmental impacts and developing mitigation strategies.

The phototoxicity of sulfamethoxazole stress on pakchoi cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) seedlings: From the perspective of photoreaction and omics analysis

The increasing use of antibiotics has attracted widespread attention to their environmental risks. However, the phototoxicity of sulfonamide antibiotics to plants remain unclear. In this study, the mechanism of the effect of sulfamethoxazole on photosynthesis of pakchoi cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) was investigated. The results showed that sulfamethoxazole inhibited the growth of pakchoi cabbage and produced photosynthetic toxicity. The growth inhibition rates increased with concentration, the root and shoot weight were 76.02 % and 47.04 % of the control, respectively, with stay-greens phenomenon in 4 mg·L-1 sulfamethoxazole treatment. Chlorophyll precursors (protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX), Mg-proto IX, and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide), 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), and porphobilinogen (PBG)) were 1.38-, 1.26-, 1.12-, 1.71-, and 0.96-fold of the control, respectively; photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids) were 1.26-, 1.39-, and 1.03-fold of the control, respectively. Respiration rate was 271.42 % of the control, whereas the net photosynthetic rate was 50.50 % of the control. The maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), the actual photosynthetic efficiency (Y(II)), the quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation (Y(NO)), the apparent electron transfer efficiency of PSII (ETR) under actual light intensity were affected, and chloroplast swelling was observed. Proteomic analysis showed that photosynthesis-related pathways were significantly up-regulated, biological processes such as light response, carbohydrates, and reactive oxygen species were activated. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and carbohydrate catabolism were stimulated significantly (p < 0.05), sugars and amino acids were increased to regulate and enhance the resilience of photosynthesis. While folate biosynthesis and ribosomal pathways were significantly down-regulated, the synthesis and translation processes of amino acids and nucleotides were inhibited.

Phytoremediation of diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole in Arabidopsis thaliana cells and seedlings

Diclofenac (DLF), a widely recognized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a broad-spectrum sulfonamide antibiotic, are commonly prescribed medications that have raised concerns as significant contributors to pharmaceutical pollution in natural ecosystems despite their clinical effectiveness. This study investigates the potential phytoremediation pathways for these two drugs in plant systems by tracking and quantifying the fate of the parent compounds and their metabolites in Arabidopsis thaliana using cell and seedling cultures. Results indicated significant differences in the dissipation of DLF according to the treatment and time interaction within the cell cultures. Viable plant cells showed complete dissipation of DLF from an initial concentration of 2758 ng/mL in 96 h, whereas non-viable cells and blank solutions remained stable. The dissipation of SMX was comparable across viable, non-viable, and blanks, showing a minor decrease from 842 to 799 ng/mL over 120 h following the treatment of viable cells. DLF metabolites including 4'-hydroxy-diclofenac, 5-hydroxy-diclofenac, acyl-glutamatyl-diclofenac, 1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2-indolinone, 5-sulfooxy-diclofenac, 5-glucopyranosyloxy-diclofenac, 1-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-indolinone, and 4'-glucopyranosyloxy-diclofenac were recognized, likely formed through acylation, glutamyl conjugation, hydroxylation, dehydration, cyclization, sulfonation, and glucosidation. While for SMX, metabolites including sulfamethoxazole-glucuronide, nitroso-sulfamethoxazole, N4-acetylsulfamethoxazole, and N4-acetyl-5-OH-sulfamethoxazole were identified, potentially produced through glucuronidation, nitrosation, acetylation, and hydroxylation. Phase I metabolite concentrations of DLF and SMX peaked earlier than those of phase II metabolites. Hydroponic A. thaliana demonstrated comparable efficiencies in the phytoremediation of DLF and SMX, with concentrations varying from 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L. Detectable levels of both parent compounds and their metabolites confirmed successful absorption and metabolism within the plant system. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of phytoremediation as a sustainable approach for reducing the environmental toxicity of DLF and SMX and suggests comparable metabolic efficiency. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on phytoremediation and its application in addressing pollution from pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Wastewater reuse and pharmaceutical pollution in agriculture: Uptake, transport, accumulation and metabolism of pharmaceutical pollutants within plants

The presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water sources has become a growing concern due to its potential impacts on human health and other organisms. The physicochemical properties of pharmaceuticals based on their intended therapeutical application, which include antibiotics, hormones, analgesics, and antidepressants, is quite diverse. Their presence in wastewater, sewerage water, surface water, ground water and even in drinking water is reported by many researchers throughout the world. Human exposure to these pollutants through drinking water or consumption of aquatic and terrestrial organisms has raised concerns about potential adverse effects, such as endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and developmental abnormalities. Once in the environment, they can persist, undergo transformation, or degrade, leading to a complex mixture of contaminants. Application of treated wastewater, compost, manures or biosolids in agricultural fields introduce pharmaceutical pollutants in the environment. As pharmaceuticals are diverse in nature, significant differences are observed during their uptake and accumulation in plants. While there have been extensive studies on aquatic ecosystems, the effect on agricultural land is more disparate. As of now, there are few reports available on the potential of plant uptake and transportation of pharmaceuticals within and between plant organs. This review summarizes the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic water bodies at a range of concentrations and their uptake, accumulation, and transport within plant tissues. Research gaps on pharmaceutical pollutants' specific effect on plant growth and future research scopes are highlighted. The factors affecting uptake of pharmaceuticals including hydrophobicity, ionization, physicochemical properties (pKa, logKow, pH, Henry's law constant) are discussed. Finally, metabolism of pharmaceuticals within plant cells through metabolism phase enzymes and plant responses to pharmaceuticals are reviewed.

Distinct toxic effects, gene expression profiles, and phytohormone responses of Polygonatum cyrtonema exposed to two different antibiotics

The excessive usage of veterinary antibiotics has raised significant concerns regarding their environmental hazard and agricultural impact when entering surface water and soil. Animal waste serves as a primary source of organic fertilizer for intensive large-scale agricultural cultivation, including the widely utilized medicinal and edible plant, Polygonatum cyrtonem. In this study, we employed a novel plant stress tissue culture technology to investigate the toxic effects of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) on P. cyrtonema. TCH and SDZ exhibited varying degrees of influence on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system. Flavonoid levels increased following exposure to TCH and SDZ. The biosynthesis and signaling pathways of the growth hormones auxin and gibberellic acid were suppressed by both antibiotics, while the salicylic acid-mediated plant stress response was specifically induced in the case of SDZ. Overall, the study unveiled both common and unique responses at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels in P. cyrtonema following exposure to two distinct types of antibiotics, providing a foundational framework for comprehensively elucidating the precise toxic effects of antibiotics and the versatile adaptive mechanisms in plants.

Comparative study of the toxicity mechanisms of quinolone antibiotics on soybean seedlings: Insights from molecular docking and transcriptomic analysis

The ecological effects of quinolone antibiotics (QNs) on non-target organisms have received widespread attention. The toxicological mechanisms of three common QNs, that is, enrofloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, on soybean seedlings were investigated in this study. Enrofloxacin and levofloxacin caused significant growth inhibition, ultrastructural alterations, photosynthetic suppression, and stimulation of the antioxidant system, with levofloxacin exhibiting the strongest toxic effects. Ciprofloxacin (<1 mg·L-1) did not have a significant effect on the soybean seedlings. As the concentrations of enrofloxacin and levofloxacin increased, antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde content, and hydrogen peroxide levels also increased. Meanwhile, the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased, indicating that the plants underwent oxidative stress and photosynthesis was suppressed. The cellular ultrastructure was also disrupted, which was manifested by swollen chloroplasts, increased starch granules, disintegration of plastoglobules, and mitochondrial degradation. The molecular docking results suggested that the QNs have an affinity for soybean target protein receptors (4TOP, 2IUJ, and 1FHF), with levofloxacin having the highest binding energy (-4.97, -3.08, -3.8, respectively). Transcriptomic analysis has shown that genes were upregulated under the enrofloxacin and levofloxacin treatments were mainly involved in ribosome metabolism and processes to synthesize oxidative stress-related proteins. Downregulated genes in the levofloxacin treatment were primarily enriched in photosynthesis-related pathways, indicating that levofloxacin significantly inhibited gene expression for photosynthesis. Genes expression level by quantitative real-time PCR analysis was consistent with the transcriptomic results. This study confirmed the toxic effect of QNs on soybean seedlings, and provided new insights into the environmental risks of antibiotics.

Long-distance responses of ginger to soil sulfamethoxazole and chromium: Growth, co-occurrence with antibiotic resistance genes, and consumption risk

The coexistence of antibiotics and heavy metals in agroecosystems is nonnegligible, which permits the promotion of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in crops, thus posing a potential threat to humans along the food chain. In this study, we investigated the bottom-up (rhizosphere→rhizome→root→leaf) long-distance responses and bio-enrichment characteristics of ginger to different sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and chromium (Cr) contamination patterns. The results showed that ginger root systems adapted to SMX- and/or Cr-stress by increasing humic-like exudates, which may help to maintain the rhizosphere indigenous bacterial phyla (i.e., Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria). The root activity, leaf photosynthesis and fluorescence, and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) of ginger were significantly decreased under high-dose Cr and SMX co-contamination, while a "hormesis effect" was observed under single low-dose SMX contamination. For example, CS100 (co-contamination of 100 mg/L SMX and 100 mg/L Cr) caused the most severe inhibition to leaf photosynthetic function by reducing photochemical efficiency (reflected on PAR-ETR, φPSII and qP). Meanwhile, CS100 induced the highest ROS production, in which H2O2 and O2·- increased by 328.82% and 238.00% compared with CK (the blank control without contamination). Moreover, co-selective stress by Cr and SMX induced the increase of ARG bacterial hosts and bacterial phenotypes containing mobile elements, contributing to the high detected abundance of target ARGs (sul1, sul2) up to 10-2∼10-1 copies/16S rRNA in rhizomes intended for consumption.

Anthropogenic antimicrobial micropollutants and their implications for agriculture

Antibiotics and disinfectants have saved millions of human lives and cured uncountable animal diseases, but their activity is not limited to the site of application. Downstream, these chemicals become micropollutants, contaminating water at trace levels, resulting in adverse impacts on soil microbial communities and threatening crop health and productivity in agricultural settings and perpetuating the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Especially as resource scarcity drives increased reuse of water and other waste streams, considerable attention is needed to characterize the fate of antibiotics and disinfectants and to prevent or mitigate environmental and public health impacts. In this review, we hope to provide an overview of why increasing concentrations of micropollutants such as antibiotics are concerning in the environment, how they can pose health risks for humans, and how they can be countered using bioremediation strategies.

Intensive poultry farming: A review of the impact on the environment and human health

Poultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil. t in 2020, with a steady growth each year. Such intensive growth methods however lead to a significant environmental footprint. Waste materials such as poultry litter and manure can pose a serious threat to environmental and human health, and need to be managed properly. Poultry production and waste by-products are linked to NH₃, N₂O and CH₄ emissions, and have an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as animal and human health. Litter and manure can contain pesticide residues, microorganisms, pathogens, pharmaceuticals (antibiotics), hormones, metals, macronutrients (at improper ratios) and other pollutants which can lead to air, soil and water contamination as well as formation of antimicrobial/multidrug resistant strains of pathogens. Dust emitted from intensive poultry production operations contains feather and skin fragments, faeces, feed particles, microorganisms and other pollutants, which can adversely impact poultry health as well as the health of farm workers and nearby inhabitants. Fastidious odours are another problem that can have an adverse impact on health and quality of life of workers and surrounding population. This study discusses the current knowledge on the impact of intensive poultry farming on environmental and human health, as well as taking a look at solutions for a sustainable future.

Semi-solid anaerobic co-digestion of source-separated fecal slag and food waste: focusing on methane production, ecological risk assessment, and quality evaluation as fertilizer

Toilet revolution is driven by the urgent need for solutions to improve sanitation and access to high-quality organic fertilizer for rural areas, which is tagged "resource recovery from human waste." This study provides a possible solution via semi-solid anaerobic co-digestion (Aco-D) of source-separated fecal slag (SFS) and food waste (FW) (3:1). A comprehensive investigation of Aco-D at different inoculum/substrate ratios (ISR) was conducted. Results revealed that the reactor with ISR of 1:4 reached the highest methane yield (255.05 mL/gVS), which enhanced Methanosaetaceae, Methanomicrobiales, and Syntrophomonas. Additionally, the reactor with low feedstock (ISR of 1:2) showed higher removal efficiency of antibiotics (74.75%). The ecological risk of digestate decreased to an insignificant hazard quotient level, and the contents of nutrients and heavy metals were in line with the standard requirement for fertilizer. This study could serve as an alternative technology to support further research in SFS management and digestate utilization as fertilizer.

Cytotoxic effect, enzyme inhibition, and in silico studies of some novel N-substituted sulfonyl amides incorporating 1,3,4-oxadiazol structural motif

Abstract

The acetylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (AChEIs and hCAIs) remain key therapeutic agents for many bioactivities such as anti-Alzheimer and antiobesity antiepileptic, anticancer, antiinfective, antiglaucoma, and diuretic effects. Here, it has been attempted to discover novel multi-target AChEIs and hCAIs that are highly potent, orally bioavailable, may be brain penetrant, and have higher effectiveness at lower doses than tacrine and acetazolamide. After detailed investigations both in vitro and in silico, novel N-substituted sulfonyl amide derivatives (6a–j) were determined to be highly potent inhibitors for AChE and hCAs (K_Is are in the range of 23.11–52.49 nM, 18.66–59.62 nM, and 9.33–120.80 nM for AChE, hCA I, and hCA II, respectively). Moreover, according to the cytotoxic effect studies, such as the ADME-Tox, cortex neuron cells, and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line, compounds 6a, 6d, and 6h, which are the most potent representative versus the target enzymes, were identified as orally bioavailable, highly selective, and brain preferentially distributed AChEIs and hCAIs. The docking studies revealed precise binding modes between 6a, 6d, and 6h and hCA II, hCA I, and AChE, respectively. The results presented here might provide a solid basis for further investigation into more potent AChEIs and hCAIs.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11030-022-10422-8.

Silicon enhanced the resistance of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) to ofloxacin on the growth, photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant system

The negative impact of the misuse of antibiotics on agriculture and human health has become a popular research topic with the increasing usage of antibiotics; however, little information is available about the mechanisms of OFL (ofloxacin) and Si (silicon). In this experiment, we applied 7 OFL concentrations to two Chinese cabbage cultivars (Qinghua and Biyu) to screen proper OFL concentrations. OFL concentrations of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg L-1 were selected for the subsequent test and 1.2 mmol L-1 Si was used as mitigation. The results showed that Biyu suffered more damage than Qinghua and the injury degree increased in a concentration-dependent manner. With increasing OFL concentrations, the photosynthetic fluorescence was weakened significantly; under 1, 2.5 and 5 mg L-1 OFL, the Pn reduced by 5.35%, 35.92% and 43.62% in Qinghua and 33.98%, 41.94% and 64.66% in Biyu, respectively. The production rate of O2-, H2O2 and the MDA content were increased and Biyu appeared higher increase rates. In addition, the antioxidant enzymes contents first increased and then decreased and that of Qinghua increased more than Biyu. Si ensured the growth under OFL and protected its photosynthetic ability. Under the OFL1+Si, OFL2.5 + Si and OFL5+Si treatments, Pn increased by 3.91%, 15.95 and 15.69% in Qinghua and 28.82%, 20.40% and 39.01% in Biyu. Si also maintained the structural integrity of leaf organelles and improved the scavenging ability of ROS by increasing the activity and relative gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, varietal differences may play a more important role than Si.

Performance and mechanism of sulfamethoxazole removal in different bioelectrochemical technology-integrated constructed wetlands

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has a high concentration and detection frequency in aquatic environments due to the poor removal efficiency of traditional biological treatment processes. Bioelectrochemical technology-integrated constructed wetlands (CWs) have great potential for SMX removal; however, the process of SMX removal in different bioelectrochemical technology-integrated CWs (microbial fuel cell (MFC) and direct current (EC)) remains unclear. To address this, we examined the mechanism of SMX removal in MFCCW and ECCW. The results revealed that the SMX removal efficiency can reach 96.0 ± 2.4% in the ECCW and 97.2 ± 2.2% in the MFCCW. The enhancement of MFC for SMX removal in CW was slightly better than that in direct current (p > 0.05). It was found that the adsorption process of SMX in the substrate promoted by EC was more enhanced than that by MFC. Furthermore, bioelectrochemical technology improved plant activity, including root and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) activities, and fluorescence parameters (photochemical quenching coefficient, non-photochemical quenching coefficient, and quantum efficiency of PS II). Significant differences were found between CW and ECCW (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found between CW and MFCCW (p > 0.05). The microbial activity and abundance in CW were improved by bioelectrochemical technology, and the microbial community structure was optimised to be simpler and more stable. However, EC tended to promote microbial and plant activity in CW, whereas MFC tended to optimise the microbial community and improve the tightness and stability of the module. The enhanced difference might also account for the changes in the SMX degradation pathway. 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (TP174), 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole (TP99) and 5-methylisoxazole (TP84) were all common products in the three reactors, whereas TP99 underwent further ring-opening in MFCCW and TP174 underwent further hydrolysis in ECCW. This study provided an important reference for the targeted regulation of plants and microorganisms in constructed wetlands via different bioelectrochemistry to enhance characteristic pollutants degradation.

Effect of soil sulfamethoxazole on strawberry (Fragaria ananassa): Growth, health risks and silicon mitigation

The negative impact of antibiotic pollution on the agricultural system and human health is a hot issue in the world. However, little information is available on the antibiotics toxicity mechanism and the role of silicon (Si) to alleviate the antibiotics toxicity. In this study, strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) showed excitatory response to low-dose SMZ (1 mg L^-1), but strawberry root and photosynthetic efficiency were damaged under high level. When SMZ level exceeded 10 mg L^-1, H₂0₂, O₂^-, MDA and relative conductivity increased, while SOD and CAT activities first increased and then decreased. SMZ accumulated more in roots and fruits, but less in stems, and the accumulation increased with the increase of SMZ-dose. Under 1 mg L^-1 SMZ, the SMZ accumulation in fruits was 110.54 μg kg^-1, which exceeded the maximum residue limit. SMZ can induce the expression of sul1, sul2 and intI1, and intI1 had the highest abundance. Exogenous application of Si alleviated the toxicity of SMZ, which is mainly related to the degradation of SMZ in soil and the reduction of SMZ absorption by strawberry. In addition, Si relieved root damage, promoted the increase of photosynthetic efficiency, and improved the antioxidant system to resist SMZ toxicity.

Irrigation with secondary municipal-treated wastewater: Potential effects, accumulation of typical antibiotics and grain quality responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Using secondary treated wastewater to irrigate paddies presents an exposure pathway for antibiotics to enter the terrestrial food chain. To date, there has been no information on the biochemical reactions and antibiotic uptake in rice plants irrigated with secondary treated wastewater. The present study investigated antibiotic uptake and concentration-response trends in rice tissues and evaluated the effects of typical antibiotics (tetracycline, roxithromycin, ofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole) on rice growth, grain yield and quality, and rice physiobiochemical characters via irrigation using treated wastewater augmented with varying concentrations (0-500 µg/L) in paddies. The results showed that the antibiotic accumulation in rice plants irrigated with treated wastewater was limited, and the studied antibiotics were not detected in rice grains (edible parts). The ability of rice to withstand certain antibiotics and grow in a healthy manner is attributed to the capacity to maintain reasonably normal photosynthesis activity and to elevate antioxidative defenses. The highest antibiotic concentration (500 µg/L) did not reduce the processing quality of the rice grain, but it enhanced the cooking and eating quality. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that secondary treated wastewater for paddy irrigation is an alternative water resource securing protection from the environment and rice grain quality.

Ofloxacin induces etiolation in Welsh onion leaves

Antibiotic pollution has become an important global issue, and ofloxacin (OFL) is widely used worldwide. However, little is known about the potential adverse effects of OFL on plants. We assessed the toxic effects of OFL on Welsh onion and explored its toxicity mechanism. The leaf pigment content increased in 0.1 mg/L of OFL but decreased in a dose-dependent manner (0.5-2 mg/L OFL) until leaf etiolation. The ultrastructure of leaves showed that the treatment of 2 mg/L OFL produced significant toxicity. Furthermore, photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters were negatively affected by OFL treatment. The photosynthetic electron transport chain was significantly inhibited by OFL treatment, especially between Q_A and Q_B. The hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content also increased with OFL concentration, indicating that antioxidant enzymes' role in antibiotic response is limited. In conclusion, OFL can damage chloroplasts by promoting ROS accumulation, which results in the etiolation of Welsh onion leaves.

Growth responses and rubisco activity influenced by antibiotics and organic amendments used for stress alleviation in Lactuca sativa

The global increase in the consumption of antibiotics has resulted in contamination of different ecosystems with severe implications on crop productivity. This study investigated the effects of ampicillin and ofloxacin on Lactuca sativa germination upon solution exposure and growth when cultivated in soils treated with three organic amendments (compost, rice husk and vermicompost). Two levels of both antibiotics 5 and 10 mg L-1 (for solution) or mg kg-1 (for soil) were tested in addition to the control. Results indicated that addition of compost significantly (p < 0.05) increased (50%) the root lengths of plant exposed to ampicillin (5 mg L-1). Similarly, vermicompost-amended treatments displayed a 64% increase (p < 0.05) in the shoot length of seedlings under the effect of 5 mg L-1 ofloxacin, depicting a positive synergistic effect between the antibiotics and amendments in the germination test. Nevertheless, the germination percentage remained unaffected in all the treatments. In greenhouse experiment, enhanced plant biomass was observed with the use of rice husk across all the treatment groups. Comparable to the germination test, plants treated with rice husk and compost signaled a higher content of rubisco large subunit (157% and 85%, respectively) and soluble protein (248% and 108%, respectively) post antibiotics application. On the contrary, an antagonistic effect of the rice husk and ofloxacin 5 mg kg-1 was observed on the chlorophyll content, evident by a 37% decrease. Overall, it was observed that the effect of antibiotics on different plant traits vary depending on the antibiotic concentration as well as type of amendment used.