Removal of diclofenac by a local bacterial consortium: UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of metabolites and ecotoxicity assessment

Diclofenac (DCF) belongs to the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which is one of the most consumed by population and detected in raw sewage. Several studies have reported variable removal rates by biodegradation of diclofenac in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study deals with the evaluation of the biodegradation of DCF by a bacterial consortium (obtained from pure cultures of Enterobacter hormaechei D15 and Enterobacter cloacea D16), which were isolated from household compost and Algerian WWTP, respectively, as sole carbon source and by co-metabolism, using glucose as carbon source. A 98% removal rate of DCF was observed when it is used as the sole carbon source, whilst only 44% of DCF was removed in co-metabolic conditions. Two metabolites were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray injection tandem mass spectrometry analysis (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS); one of them was identified as 4'-hydroxy-DCF, and the second metabolite was suspected to be a nitro derivative of DCF, according to comparison with the literature. Biodegradation of DCF by this bacterial consortium generates relatively safe final by-products.

Assessment of Streptococcus salivarius sp thermophiles Antioxidant Efficiency and its Role in Reducing Paracetamol Hepatotoxicity

Background:

Probiotics have attracted a great attention aiming to develop natural non-toxic antioxidants, because of their role in decreasing the risk of reactive oxygen species [ROS] accumulation.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to assess the antioxidant activity of a probiotic Streptococcus salivarius ssp thermophillus [St.sa] and to evaluate its protective effect against the oxidative stress induced by a toxic dose of paracetamol in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods:

Several assays were used to investigate the in vitro antioxidant capacity of the strain. To evaluate the protective effect against oxidative stress induced by paracetamol in liver, hepatic marker enzymes, the antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH] content in liver tissues were investigated.

Results:

The strain has shown a considerable ability to scavenge DPPH free radical [89.43%],a good resistance to hydroxyl radicals [47%], a considerable ability to chelate iron ions [33.21%] and a good inhibitory effect against plasma lipid peroxidation [54.36%]. Significant changes in liver function tests, antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA and GSH levels in paracetamol treated group were obtained compared to control group. Pretreatment with probiotic removed significantly the inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and suppressed MDA increase and GSH depletion. The analysis of the level of mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes showed no significant differences in the expression of the enzymes in treated or non-treated groups.

Conclusion:

This finding emphasizes the protective role of probiotics against ROS generated during the treatment with paracetamol

Scrophularia Tenuipes Coss and Durieu: Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities

Scrophularia tenuipes is an Algerian-Tunisian endemic species, which has not been studied yet. Ethyl acetate (EA) and n-butanol (Bu) fractions obtained from Scrophularia tenuipes were investigated for their health benefit properties, in particular with respect to in vivo/in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, as well as their potential to inhibit key enzymes with impact in diabetes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). The fractions had a distinct phytochemical composition, of which EA was richer in total phenolic compounds (225 mg GAE/g) and mostly composed of the phenylethanoid acetyl martynoside. Compared to EA, Bu had higher amounts of total flavonoids, and according to the result obtained from UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn analysis, harpagoside (iridoid) was its major phytochemical. EA fraction was quite promising with regard to the in vivo (at 200 mg/kg, po) anti-inflammatory effect (62% and 52% for carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema tests, respectively), while Bu fraction exhibited a stronger antioxidant capacity in all tests (IC50 = 68 µg/mL, IC50 = 18 µg/mL, IC50 = 18 µg/mL and A0.50 = 43 µg/mL for DPPH●, ABTS•+, O2•- scavenging assays and cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity method, respectively). Both fractions also showed a strong effect against α-amylase enzyme (IC50 = 8 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL for EA and Bu fraction, respectively).

PROBIOTIC PROPERTIES AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFICIENCY OF LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM 15 ISOLATED FROM MILK

Many researchers are focusing on the investigation of new molecules and substances to help the body fighting oxidative stress; among them are probiotic bacteria. In this study we investigated the probiotic properties and the antioxidative activity of Lactobacillus plantarum 15 isolated from milk. Therefore, to evaluate probiotic potential of the selected strain, the antibacterial activity and resistance to acidic pH and bile salts conditions were evaluated. Moreover, several methods were used to analyze the antioxidant potential of this strain. The evaluation of probiotic properties showed that Lb. plantarum 15 resists to acidity and to bile salts (survival rate was 86.40% and 80.58%, respectively). The isolate showed a broad inhibitory activity against several bacterial strains. The antioxidant potential assessed by the DPPH method showed that Lb. plantarum 15 cells as well as the cell-free supernatant have important scavenger effect (82.65% and 72.21%, respectively). Furthermore, the strain showed a good resistance to hydrogen peroxide (76.12%), hydroxyl radicals (46.15%) and a considerable iron chelating ability (20.52 %). Thus, Lb. plantarum 15 could be effectively considered as potent antioxidant probiotic food supplement.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FOOD STRESS CONDITIONS ON THE VIABILITY OF ENCAPSULATED Lactobacillus plantarum AND Lactobacillus casei ISOLATED FROM KLILA (AN ALGERIAN TRADITIONAL FERMENTED CHEESE)

Klila is one of a variety of Algerian traditional cheeses. The present work aimed to study the viability of two lactobacilli: Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei isolated from Klila and immobilized by extrusion in 2% sodium alginate under different stress conditions (different NaCl concentrations, sugar stress, different pH values and simulated gastrointestinal conditions) during storage at 4oC. Results showed that viability of encapsulated cells was enhanced at high salt concentration; at 9%, viability of free Lb. casei cells decreased by 9 Log CFU/ml 14 days, and by only 0.2 Log CFU/ml for encapsulated cells. Encapsulated Lb. plantarum resisted up to 28 days while viability of free cells decreased by 9 Log CFU/ml in the 7th day at 9%. pH 2 showed the lowest viability which is decreased as the time of storage increased. After 14 days of storage, Lb. casei free cells decreased by 9 Log CFU/ml, encapsulated ones by only 2.8 Log CFU/ml, Lb. plantarum free cells by 9 Log CFU/ml and by 2.6 Log CFU/ml for encapsulated cells. Exposure to simulated gastrointestinal conditions showed that Lb. casei resisted such conditions compared to non-encapsulated cells which was not the case with Lb. plantarum. Storage in a commercial strawberry beverage showed that free cells did not resist more than the7th day while coated cells resisted till the 14th day. We conclude that encapsulation enhance the viability of bacteria in harsh conditions.

Biological Removal of the Mixed Pharmaceuticals: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, and Sulfamethoxazole Using a Bacterial Consortium

Background: The presence of pharmaceuticals at low concentrations (ng to μg) in the environment has become a hot spot for researchers in the past decades due to the unknown environmental impact and the possible damages they might have to the plantae and fauna present in the aquatic systems, as well as to the other living organisms. Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to develop a bacterial consortium isolated from different origins to evaluate the ability of such a consortium to remove a mixture of pharmaceuticals in the batch system at lab scale, as well as assessment of its resistance to the other micropollutants present in the environment. Material and Methods: Using a closed bottle test, biodegradation of the mixed pharmaceuticals including Diclofenac (DCF), Ibuprofen (IBU), and Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (at a concentration of 3 mg.L^-1 of each drug) by the bacterial consortium was investigated. The test was carried out under metabolic (pharmaceutical was used as the sole source of carbon) and co-metabolic condition (in the presence of glucose). Finally, the ability of the bacterial consortium to resist other micropollutants like antibiotics and heavy metals was investigated. Results: Under the metabolic condition, the mixed bacteria (i.e., consortium) were able to metabolize 23.08% and 9.12% of IBU, and DCF at a concentration of 3 mg.L^-1 of each drug, respectively. Whereas, in co-metabolic conditions, IBU was eliminated totally, in addition, 56% of the total concentration of DCF was removed, as well. In both metabolic and cometabolic conditions, removal of SMX was not observed. The selected bacteria were able to resist to most of the applied antibiotics and the used heavy metals, except mercury, where only one strain (S4) was resistant to the later heavy metal. Conclusion: Results suggest that the developed consortium might be an excellent candidate for the application in the bioremediation process for treating ecosystems contaminated with the pharmaceutical.

Metabolic and Co-Metabolic Transformation of Diclofenac by Enterobacter hormaechei D15 Isolated from Activated Sludge

The presence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac (DCF), in the environment, is an emerging problem due to their harmful effects on non-target organisms, even at low concentrations. We studied the biodegradation of DCF by the strain D15 of Enterobacter hormaechei. The strain was isolated from an activated sludge, and identified as E. hormaechei based on its physiological characteristics and its 16 S RNA sequence. Using HPTLC and GC-MS methods, we demonstrated that this strain metabolized DCF at an elimination rate of 52.8%. In the presence of an external carbon source (glucose), the elimination rate increased to approximately 82%. GC-MS analysis detected and identified one metabolite as 1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one; it was produced as a consequence of dehydration and lactam formation reactions.