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Carbamazepine-mediated pro-oxidant effects on the unicellular marine algal species Dunaliella tertiolecta and the hemocytes of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

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Abstract

This study investigates the pro-oxidant behavior of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) on the marine algal species Dunaliella tertiolecta and the immune defense-related hemocytes of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. A phytotoxicity test, performed in a first step, showed a significant inhibition of the growth rate and the chlorophyll alpha (Chl-α) content in algae after exposure for 24 h to different concentrations of CBZ (1–200 mg L−1). On the other hand, the increased levels of lipid peroxidation products, such as MDA, measured in 24 h CBZ-treated cells were attenuated with time (48–96 h), followed by a significant recovery of both the algal growth rate and the Chl-α content in all cases. The latter could be related to the concomitant enhancement of total carotenoids in CBZ-treated algae with time, which in turn could protect algal growth and survival against CBZ-induced oxidative stress. On the other hand, the increased levels of cell death, superoxide anions (·O2 −), nitric oxides (NO, in terms of nitrites, NO2 −) and MDA content observed in mussel hemocytes exposed to environmentally relevant (0.01–1 μg L−1) and/or higher (10 and 100 μg L−1) concentrations of the drug, clearly indicate the ability of CBZ to induce oxidative effects on cells of non-target species, such as mussels, affecting thus their overall health status. The significant relationships occurred among the tested biological parameters in both bioassays, further reinforce CBZ-mediated pro-oxidant effects on species, widely used in ecotoxicological and toxicological studies and provide a more comprehensive view on its environmental fate and ecotoxicological risk evaluation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the annual research budget sanctioned to the Section of Animal Biology by the University of Patras, Greece.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Animal Biology, Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Pinelopi Tsiaka, Vasiliki Tsarpali & Stefanos Dailianis

  2. Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas (ICEHT/FORTH), 10 Stadiou st., Platani, 26504, Patras, Greece

    Ioanna Ntaikou

  3. Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Greece

    Maria N. Kostopoulou

  4. School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 15780, Athens, Greece

    Gerasimos Lyberatos

  5. Section of Animal Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Stefanos Dailianis

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  1. Pinelopi Tsiaka
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Correspondence to Stefanos Dailianis.

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Tsiaka, P., Tsarpali, V., Ntaikou, I. et al. Carbamazepine-mediated pro-oxidant effects on the unicellular marine algal species Dunaliella tertiolecta and the hemocytes of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis . Ecotoxicology 22, 1208–1220 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-013-1108-3

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