title: Morpho-physiological effects of ibuprofen on Scenedesmus rubescens.
abstract: The pollution of aquatic bodies by drugs is an emerging environmental problem, because of their extensive use in animal and human context. Ibuprofen, 2-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid, is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mainly present both in wastewater and in rivers and lakes in Europe. Since in literature there is little information about the effects of ibuprofen on microalgae, in this paper we presented the results on the effects of this molecule at different concentrations (62.5μgL(-1), 250μgL(-1) and 1000μgL(-1)) on cultures of the freshwater microalga Scenedesmus rubescens (P.J.L. Dangeard) E. Kesslet et al. Ibuprofen effects on the alga were assayed at first through analyses of the growth curve. Moreover, analyses of cell morphology, ultrastructure, and photosynthetic pigments were additionally performed. The first negative effect of the drug was on the microalga growth, suggesting a drug action dose-dependent mechanism type, more evident at the concentration of 1000μgL(-1) ibuprofen and in the last phase of the growth curve. In support of this, following ibuprofen exposure, the cells exhibited morphological and ultrastructural alterations, mainly consisting in large cytoplasmic inclusions, probably of lipids and/or carotenoids. The decrease of chlorophyll amounts and, on the contrary, the increase of carotenoids were correlated with a stressful condition induced by drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matozzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moschin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.dallavecchia@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Francesca Dalla
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Vecchia
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005060:Europe; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000633:toxicity*; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D007052:Ibuprofen
keywords: Ibuprofen; Photosynthetic pigments; Scenedesmus rubescens; Ultrastructure