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Zheng Y, Shao Y, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Zhao Z, Xu R, Ding J, Li W, Wang B, Zhang H. Metformin as an Emerging Pollutant in the Aquatic Environment: Occurrence, Analysis, and Toxicity. TOXICS 2024; 12:483. [PMID: 39058135 PMCID: PMC11281297 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12070483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The use of human and veterinary drugs has led to the accumulation of pharmaceuticals in various aquatic environments at progressively increasing levels, exhibiting strong ecological risks. Metformin is widely used as a first-line prescription drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as a livestock drug. Unlike other drugs, metformin is not metabolized in the body, and almost all of its intake is excreted and released into the aquatic environment via urine and feces, causing adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. This review provides an overview of the occurrence and detection of metformin in the aquatic environment and its toxic effects on different aquatic organisms (fish, daphnia, rotifers, chlorella). Metformin has been documented in a variety of aqueous environments such as wastewater, surface water, and groundwater as well as drinking water. The wide distribution of metformin in the aqueous environment calls for the development of more accurate detection methods. This paper reviews detection methods for metformin in the aqueous environment and evaluates their advantages and disadvantages. Toxicity studies have shown that metformin can cause adverse reactions in fish, such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, disruption of intestinal flora, and morphological alterations; it also affects the growth and reproduction of small aquatic organisms. Knowledge gaps in the field of metformin research were assessed, and future research priorities were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyue Zheng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yongjian Shao
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yinan Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zhiquan Liu
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai Academy of Environment Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Zirui Zhao
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Ranyun Xu
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiafeng Ding
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Wenbing Li
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Binhao Wang
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Hangjun Zhang
- School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai Academy of Environment Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China
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Onofre-Camarena DB, Elizalde-Velázquez GA, Gómez-Oliván LM, García-Medina S, Galar-Martínez M, Jerónimo Juárez JR, Herrera-Vázquez SE. Assessing the impact of COVID-19 era drug combinations on hepatic functionality: A thorough investigation in adult Danio rerio. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123997. [PMID: 38636837 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Current and thorough information on the ecotoxicological consequences of pharmaceuticals is accessible globally. However, there remains a substantial gap in knowledge concerning the potentially toxic effects of COVID-19 used drugs, individually and combined, on aquatic organisms. Given the factors above, our investigation assumes pivotal importance in elucidating whether or not paracetamol, dexamethasone, metformin, and their tertiary mixtures might prompt histological impairment, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the liver of zebrafish. The findings indicated that all treatments, except paracetamol, augmented the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAD), along with elevating the levels of oxidative biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation (LPX), hydroperoxides (HPC), and protein carbonyl content (PCC). Paracetamol prompted a reduction in the activities SOD and CAT and exhibited the most pronounced toxic response when compared to the other treatments. The gene expression patterns paralleled those of oxidative stress, with all treatments demonstrating overexpression of bax, bcl2, and p53. The above suggested a probable apoptotic response in the liver of the fish. Nevertheless, our histological examinations revealed that none of the treatments induced an apoptotic or inflammatory response in the hepatocytes. Instead, the observed tissue alterations encompassed leukocyte infiltration, sinusoidal dilatation, pyknosis, fatty degeneration, diffuse congestion, and vacuolization. In summary, the hepatic toxicity elicited by COVID-19 drugs in zebrafish was less pronounced than anticipated. This attenuation could be attributed to metformin's antioxidant and hormetic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Belen Onofre-Camarena
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP, 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Axel Elizalde-Velázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP, 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP, 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico.
| | - Sandra García-Medina
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Acuática, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México, CP, 07700, Mexico
| | - Marcela Galar-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Acuática, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu s/n y cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México, CP, 07700, Mexico
| | - José Roberto Jerónimo Juárez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP, 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Selene Elizabeth Herrera-Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP, 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
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Dong L, Li S, Huang J, Li WJ, Ali M. Co-occurrence, toxicity, and biotransformation pathways of metformin and its intermediate product guanylurea: Current state and future prospects for enhanced biodegradation strategy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171108. [PMID: 38395159 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of metformin and its biotransformation product "guanylurea" are posing an increasing concern due to their low biodegradability under natural attenuated conditions. Therefore, in this study, we reviewed the unavoidable function of metformin in human body and the route of its release in different water ecosystems. In addition, metformin and its biotransformation product guanylurea in aquatic environments caused certain toxic effects on aquatic organisms which include neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, production of ROS, and acetylcholinesterase disturbance in aquatic organisms. Moreover, microorganisms are the first to expose and deal with the release of these contaminants, therefore, the mechanisms of biodegradation pathways of metformin and guanylurea under aerobic and anaerobic environments were studied. It has been reported that certain microbes, such as Aminobacter sp. and Pseudomonas putida can carry potential enzymatic pathways to degrade the dead-end product "guanylurea", and hence guanylurea is no longer the dead-end product of metformin. However, these microbes can easily be affected by certain geochemical cycles, therefore, we proposed certain strategies that can be helpful in the enhanced biodegradation of metformin and its biotransformation product guanylurea. A better understanding of the biodegradation potential is imperative to improve the use of these approaches for the sustainable and cost-effective remediation of the emerging contaminants of concern, metformin and guanylurea in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; School of Life Science, Jiaying University, Meizhou, China
| | - Jie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China.
| | - Mukhtiar Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Advanced Water Technology Laboratory, National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China..
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Barbieri PA, Lupepsa L, Paupitz BR, de Andrade CO, Gigliolli AAS, de Brito Portela-Castro AL, Ribeiro RP, Fernandes CA, Borin-Carvalho LA. Erythrocyte alterations in specimens of Danio rerio caused by exposure to metformin. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 106:104373. [PMID: 38244880 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The antidiabetic drug metformin is widely prescribed around the world. However, its permanence in different environmental concentrations has been associated with adverse toxicological effects in organisms that do not target its therapeutic action. In the aquatic environment, fish such as the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been considered potential bioindicators of environmental impacts and used as experimental models in toxicological studies due to the sensitivity of these species to different types of contaminants, including pharmaceuticals. Thus, this study aimed to analyze metformin's cytotoxic effects on Danio rerio erythrocytes. The animals were submitted to different concentrations of the drug (50 µg/L, 100 µg/L, 150 µg/L, and 10000 µg/L) for 365 days and subsequently observed employing light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the alterations that occurred. Exposure of animals to metformin led to significant erythrocyte cell abnormalities across all tested concentrations, with a particularly pronounced effect at the higher concentration previously defined as the NOEC (No Observed Effect Concentration). Remarkable abnormalities included cytoplasmic vacuoles, echinocytes, and vesicle-like cytoplasmic fragments. These findings suggest that metformin, even at concentrations similar to those found in nature and at the NOEC level, exhibits cytotoxic potential in D. rerio, raising concerns about its potential health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luara Lupepsa
- Biological Sciences Postgraduate Program, State University of Maringá, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ana Luiza de Brito Portela-Castro
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cellular Biology, State University of Maringá, Brazil; Research Center in Limnology, Ichthyology and Aquaculture (Nupélia), State University of Maringá, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Alexandre Fernandes
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cellular Biology, State University of Maringá, Brazil; Research Center in Limnology, Ichthyology and Aquaculture (Nupélia), State University of Maringá, Brazil
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Elizalde-Velázquez GA, Herrera-Vázquez SE, Gómez-Oliván LM, García-Medina S. Health impact assessment after Danio rerio long-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of metformin and guanylurea. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140070. [PMID: 37689151 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
The antidiabetic drug metformin (MET) and its metabolite guanylurea (GUA) have been frequently and ubiquitously detected in surface water. Consequently, there has been a consistent rise in studying the toxicity of MET and GUA in fish over the past decade. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that no study has assessed the harmful effects both compounds might trigger on fish blood and organs after chronic exposure. Taking into consideration the data above, our research strived to accomplish two primary objectives: Firstly, to assess the effect of comparable concentrations of MET and GUA (1, 40, 100 μg/L) on the liver, gills, gut, and brain of Danio rerio after six months of flow-through exposure. Secondly, to compare the outcomes to identify which compound prompts more significant oxidative stress and apoptosis in organs and blood parameter alterations. Herein, findings indicate that both compounds induced oxidative damage and increased the expression of genes associated with apoptosis (bax, bcl2, p53, and casp3). Chronic exposure to MET and GUA also generated fluctuations in glucose, creatinine, phosphorus, liver enzymes, red and white blood count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. The observed biochemical changes indicate that MET and GUA are responsible for inducing hepatic damage in fish, whereas hematological alterations suggest that both compounds cause anemia. Considering GUA altered to a more considerable extent the values of all endpoints compared to the control group, it is suggested transformation product GUA is more toxic than MET. Moreover, based on the above evidence, it can be inferred that a six-month exposure to MET and GUA can impair REDOX status and generate apoptosis in fish, adversely affecting their essential organs' functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Axel Elizalde-Velázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de México. Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Selene Elizabeth Herrera-Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de México. Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Ambiental, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de México. Paseo Colón Intersección Paseo Tollocan, Colonia Residencial Colón, CP 50120, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7248-3449
| | - Sandra García-Medina
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Acuática, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Wilfrido Massieu S/n y Cerrada Manuel Stampa, Col. Industrial Vallejo, Ciudad de México, CP, 07700, Mexico
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Feng M, Gui Y, An J, Cao X, Lu W, Yang G, Jian S, Hu B, Wen C. The thioredoxin expression of Cristaria plicata is regulated by Nrf2/ARE pathway under microcystin stimulation. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124509. [PMID: 37085063 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Thioredoxin plays an important role in inhibiting apoptosis and protecting cells from oxidative stress. This study was aimed to clarify how the expression of Trx from Cristaria plicata is regulated by Nrf2/ARE pathway. The expression of CpTrx mRNA was significantly up-regulated in gill and kidney tissues under microcystin stress. The Nrf2 gene of Cristaria plicata was identified to possess an auto active domain bit. While CpNrf2 was knocked down by specific small RNA, CpTrx mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated. The promoter of CpTrx gene had high transcriptional activity, and this basic transcriptional activity persisted after ARE element mutation. The region of promoter -206 to +217 bp was a core promoter region and had forward regulatory elements. Gel shift Assay exhibited that the CpTrx promoter could bind to the purified proteins CpNrf2 and CpMafK in vitro. The binding phenomenon disappeared after the ARE element mutation in promoter region. Subcellular localization experiments displayed that fluorescence overlap between CpNrf2 and Trx promoter increased under microcystin toxin stress. These results suggested that Trx expression was regulated by Nrf2/ARE pathway under oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maolin Feng
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yingping Gui
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jinhua An
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - XinYing Cao
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Wuting Lu
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Gang Yang
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Shaoqing Jian
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Baoqing Hu
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Chungen Wen
- College of Life Science, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
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