European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT: A REVIEW ON THE ECOTOXICITY OF DICLOFENAC

Prameela Devi Yalavarthy* Rohini Padma, Kola Ravi Kumar and Abdul Rasheed Md

ABSTRACT

Pharmaceuticals are the biologically active compounds that are used to treat various ailments in human and animals. These have made their entry into the aquatic systems through different pathways and are showing devastating effects on the biota. The issue of pharmaceuticals as the emerging pollutants and their impact on the environment has aroused the interest of researchers all around the world. They have been detected in the surface waters worldwide in the range of ng/l to μg/l. Diclofenac is a widely prescribed non –steroidal anti inflammatory drug which is used to reduce pain and inflammation in disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondilytis, gout, dysmenorrhea, spondylarthritis etc,. It has been frequently found in surface waters worldwide. Many laboratory studies have shown its toxic effects on the aquatic biota like microorganisms, algae, crustaceans and fish. There are evidences of bioconcentration in tissues of fish and its bioaccumulation in the food chain. It has also shown cytotoxic, genotoxic, estrogenic and teratogenic effects in fish and frog. The transformation products were proven to be more toxic than parent compound. This article comprises of the occurrence, fate and toxicity of diclofenac. It also encompasses mechanism of its action, efficacy and potential side effects of the drug. The available literature warrants further research on all the above aspects.

Keywords: pharmaceuticals, Diclofenac, toxic effects, bioconcentation.