Antonino Pollio

Ecotoxicological impact of pharmaceuticals found in treated wastewaters: study of carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac

In four countries (France, Greece, Italy, and Sweden) occurrence in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and ecotoxicity of the pharmaceuticals carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac were investigated. Bioassays were performed on bacteria, algae, microcrustaceans, and fishes in order to calculate their predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) and to perform a first approach of risk characterization. For this aim, risk has been estimated by the predicted environmental concentration/PNEC ratio and the measured environmental concentration/PNEC ratio. First, regarding the PNEC, carbamazepine appears to be the more hazardous compound. Second, even though it is demonstrated that carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac have been detected in effluents, only carbamazepine have been detected in all sewage treatment plants with the greatest concentrations. Third, risk quotients greater than unity were calculated only for carbamazepine, suggesting that risk for the water compartment is expected.

Environmental risk assessment of six human pharmaceuticals: Are the current environmental risk assessment procedures sufficient for the protection of the aquatic environment?

In this study, exposure and ecotoxicity data of six human pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, ofloxacin, propranolol, and sulfamethoxazole) were collected, including our own experimental data and literature data. From this data collection, the two-tiered European draft guideline on the environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals was tested. Measured environmental concentrations in effluents from France and in effluents and surface waters from Germany were compared to the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in both countries. In a similar manner, predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) derived from acute data and PNECs derived from chronic data were estimated for each pharmaceutical and corresponding PEC/PNEC ratios then were compared in both countries. Globally, results demonstrated that all environmental concentrations (predicted or measured) for each considered pharmaceutical exceeded the 10-ng/L cutoff value, which requires the implementation of the second-tier assessment based on ecotoxicity data. Moreover, the six pharmaceuticals showed a relatively limited acute toxicity, and carbamazepine and propranolol were inaccurately identified as having negligible risks under the current European draft procedure. Such results lead to discussion of the actual procedure on pharmaceuticals, especially on the need of appropriate ecotoxicity tests.

Carbamazepine in water: persistence in the environment, ozonation treatment and preliminary assessment on algal toxicity.

The presence of carbamazepine (CBZ), an antiepilectic drug, has been reported in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents as a result of its low biodegradability. In the present work, the persistence of CBZ in aquatic environment with respect to abiotic transformation processes along with its toxicity and capability of accumulating in single aquatic organisms (algae) are evaluated. The possibility of removing CBZ from STP effluents is studied by characterizing its ozonation process through the assessment of kinetics and the distribution of oxidation products.

Plant Polyphenols and Their Anti-Cariogenic Properties: A Review

Polyphenols constitute one of the most common groups of substances in plants. Polyphenolic compounds have been reported to have a wide range of biological activities, many of which are related to their conventional antioxidant action; however, increasing scientific knowledge has highlighted their potential activity in preventing oral disease, including the prevention of tooth decay. The aim of this review is to show the emerging findings on the anti-cariogenic properties of polyphenols, which have been obtained from several in vitro studies investigating the effects of these bioactive molecules against Streptococcus mutans, as well as in vivo studies. The analysis of the literature supports the anti-bacterial role of polyphenols on cariogenic streptococci, suggesting (1) a direct effect against S. mutans; (2) an interaction with microbial membrane proteins inhibiting the adherence of bacterial cells to the tooth surface; and (3) the inhibition of glucosyl transferase and amylase. However, more studies, particularly in vivo and in situ, are necessary to establish conclusive evidence for the effectiveness and the clinical applications of these compounds in the prevention of dental caries. It is essential to better determine the nature and distribution of these compounds in our diet and to identify which of the hundreds of existing polyphenols are likely to provide the greatest effects.

Anti-cariogenic effects of polyphenols from plant stimulant beverages (cocoa, coffee, tea).

Polyphenols occurring in cocoa, coffee and tea can have a role in the prevention of cariogenic processes, due to their antibacterial action. Cocoa polyphenol pentamers significantly reduce biofilm formation and acid production by Streptococcus mutans and S. sanguinis. In the same way, trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic acid occurring in green and roasted coffee interfere with S. mutans adsorption to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads. Studies carried out on green, oolong and black tea indicate that tea polyphenols exert an anti-caries effect via an anti-microbial mode-of-action, and galloyl esters of (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-gallocatechin show increasing antibacterial activities. The anti-cariogenic effects against alpha-haemolytic streptococci showed by polyphenols from cocoa, coffee, and tea suggest further studies to a possible application of these beverages in the prevention of pathogenesis of dental caries.

Hidden biodiversity of the extremophilic Cyanidiales red algae

The Cyanidiales is a group of asexual, unicellular red algae, which thrive in acidic and high temperature conditions around hot springs. These unicellular taxa have a relatively simple morphology and are currently classified into three genera, Cyanidium, Cyanidioschyzon and Galdieria. Little is known, however, about the biodiversity of Cyanidiales, their population structure and their phylogenetic relationships. Here we used a taxonomically broadly sampled three‐gene data set of plastid sequences to infer a robust phylogenetic framework for the Cyanidiales. The phylogenetic analyses support the existence of at least four distinct Cyanidiales lineages: the Galdieria spp. lineage (excluding Galdieria maxima), the Cyanidium caldarium lineage, a novel monophyletic lineage of mesophilic Cyanidium spp. and the Cyanidioschyzon merolae plus Galdieria maxima lineage. Our analyses do not support the notion of a mesophilic ancestry of the Cyanidiales and suggest that these algae were ancestrally thermo‐acidotolerant. We also used environmental polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rbcL gene to sample Cyanidiales biodiversity at five ecologically distinct sites at Pisciarelli in the Phlegrean Fields in Italy. This analysis showed a high level of sequence divergence among Cyanidiales species and the partitioning of taxa based on environmental conditions. Our research revealed an unexpected level of genetic diversity among Cyanidiales that revises current thinking about the phylogeny and biodiversity of this group. We predict that future environmental PCR studies will significantly augment known biodiversity that we have discovered and demonstrate the Cyanidiales to be a species‐rich branch of red algal evolution.

Biodegradation of phenols by microalgae

Two green microalgae, Ankistrodesmus braunii and Scenedesmus quadricauda, degraded phenols (each tested at 400 mg ml−1) selected from olive-oil mill wastewaters, within 5 days, with a removal greater than 70%. Green algae may, therefore, represent an alternative to other biological treatment used for the biodegradation of phenol-containing wastewaters.

Continuity and change in the Mediterranean medical tradition: Ruta spp. (rutaceae) in Hippocratic medicine and present practices.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ruta is a genus of Rutaceae family. It features mainly shrubby plants, native to the Mediterranean region and present in traditional medicine of this region since Antiquity. The three most diffused species Ruta chalepensis L., Ruta graveolens L., and Ruta montana (L.) L., are morphologically poorly differentiated and were probably interchangeably used during Antiquity. AIM OF THE STUDY Hippocratic and contemporary medical applications of the Ruta genus in the Mediterranean were compared to check if they result from a continuity of use from the ancient times to nowadays. RESULTS Ruta spp. was mainly employed in medical preparations by Hippocratic physicians as an abortifacient and emmenagogue. In addition to gynaecological conditions, in several treatises of the Corpus HippocraticumRuta spp. were also recommended as a specific remedy against pulmonary diseases. Ruta spp. leaves and also roots and seeds, were administered for internal use by Hippocratic physicians after having been soaked in wine or mixed with honey or its derivatives. Contemporary traditional uses of Ruta spp. have been assessed in detail in the whole Mediterranean area. CONCLUSION Nowadays, Ruta spp. is used to treat different conditions but, as a general rule, the external uses are preferred as the toxicity of the plant is widely acknowledged.

Potential allelochemicals fromPistia stratiotes L.

Among the substances isolated from ethyl ether extract ofPistia stratiotes L., linoleic acid,γ-linolenic acid, (12R,9Z,13E,15Z)-l2-hydroxy- 9,13,15-octadecatrienoicacid, (9S,10E,12Z,15Z)-9-hydroxy-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, α-asarone, and 24S-ethyl-4,22-cholestadiene-3,6-dione were found to inhibit the growth of some microalgae in solid medium. Toxicity of α-asarone on the growth of sensitive algal strains in liquid medium is discussed.

In vitro algal growth inhibition by phytotoxins ofTypha latifolia L.

The ether extract ofTypha latifolia L. inhibited the growth of some microalgae. Among the substances chromatographically isolated and characterized from the ether extract, three steroids [β-sitosterol, (20S) 24-methylenlophenol, and stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione] and three fatty acids [α− linolenic, linoleic, and an unidentified C8∶2] were found to inhibit the growth of some microalgae tested. A selective effect of these substance on blue-green algae (particularly on T 625Synechococcus leopoliensis and on T 1444Anabaena flosaquae) was observed.