Neha Nitin Patil

The increasing environmental prevalence of pharma micropollutants raises significant environmental concerns. This review covers the occurrence, environmental fate, and potential hazards of acetaminophen to ecosystems. Ecotoxicological studies reveal the impact of acetaminophen on organisms, including aquatic species, soil microbes, and plants, with effects ranging from oxidative stress to behavioural changes. Only organisms containing detoxifying enzymes (cytochrome P450, phenol type sulfotransferase, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, total glutathione-s-transferase, N-acetyltransferase, and amidase) survive in acetaminophen-polluted environments. The review describes bioremediation approaches by highlighting acetaminophen degraders, key enzymes, and genes responsible for the biodegradation of acetaminophen. Additionally, the paper explores computational studies, including in silico modelling of degradation pathways, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) analyses for toxicity prediction, and molecular docking simulations to understand drug-enzyme interactions. Molecular docking investigated that Bacillus anthracis amidase (5EWQ) has a strong binding affinity (−4.9 kcal/mol binding energy) with acetaminophen, which proves the role of amidase in the acetaminophen biodegradation pathway. Acetaminophen showed strong binding affinity with cyclooxygenase 2 (1CX2) with a binding energy of − 8.8412 kcal/mol, which proves its inhibitory activity on the cyclooxygenase involved in the developmental growth and immune response of the fish. These computational approaches complement experimental work and offer insights into degradation mechanisms and potential remediation strategies. The review highlights the need for integrating experimental and computational methods to develop more effective sustainable solutions for managing emerging pharma contaminants in the environment.

Environmental contamination from pharmaceutical and personal care products is a growing concern due to their widespread use. This study was aimed to investigate the biodegradation of acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine alongside computational analysis (DFT calculations and molecular docking). The acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine-tolerant strain was isolated from pharma industrial wastewater and identified as Pseudomonas sp. MSW 2 (GenBank: PP800223.1) based on morphological, biochemical, as well as DNA barcoding method. Based on the UV–VIS spectroscopy and HPLC data it was confirmed that Pseudomonas sp. MSW 2 degrades 1000 ppm of acetaminophen by 95% within 3 days and 50 ppm of hydroxychloroquine by 95% within 5 days, following first-order degradation kinetic models with rate constants of 0.65 d⁻¹ and 0.457 d⁻¹, respectively. Based on HRMS and ¹H NMR spectroscopy data, 1,4-benzoquinone and 7-chloro-4-quinolinamine were identified as degradative product of acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine, respectively. The HOMO–LUMO energy gap (ΔEg) for acetaminophen,1,4 benzoquinone, hydroxychloroquine and 7-chloro-4-quinolinamine is 5.35 eV, 2.38 eV, 4.45 eV, and 4.55 eV, respectively. Data suggests that 1,4 benzoquinone has lower stability and higher reactivity compared to the acetaminophen. Whereas in case of hydroxychloroquine degradative product (7-chloro-4-quinolinamine), negligible changes were observed in the reactivity. Molecular docking simulations predicted a strong binding affinity (-26 kcal/mol) between acetaminophen and the amidase (PDB ID 2UXY) enzyme from P. aeruginosa, facilitated by hydrogen bonding. This study gives new insights in the bioremediation process, using the DFT calculations to theoretically document the reactivity and stability of pollutant as well as their biodegradative metabolites.

Acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine are widely used drugs during COVID situations. Residual concentrations of acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine have been detected in pharmaceutical industry wastewater, effluent treatment plants, and surface water. The present study was carried out on the bioremediation of acetaminophen (paracetamol) and hydroxychloroquine by using the bacterial isolate Kosakonia cowanii JCM 10956(T) (GenBank: OQ733302.1). Identification of the isolate was done using the 16S rRNA sequencing technique. The LC50 values for bacteria were determined for acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine as 2186.70 and 1735.13 ppm, respectively. Isolate was found to degrade acetaminophen (1500 ppm) into hydroquinone after five days of incubation with an 81% biodegradation rate. Hydroxychloroquine (1000 ppm) was found to be degraded into oxalic acid with 7-chloroquinoline-4-amine and 4-aminoquinoline-7-ol as intermediates. After 15 days of incubation, 60% of hydroxychloroquine was found to be degraded. Acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine biodegradation followed a first-order kinetic model with a rate constant of 0.339 d^− 1 and 0.0618 d^− 1, respectively. Half-lives for acetaminophen and hydroxychloroquine were found to be 2.05 and 11.2 days, respectively. Based on the analytical techniques of UV-visible spectra, HPLC, mass spectra, and proton nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (1H NMR) studies, biodegradative metabolites were identified. Ecotoxicological testing of the parent drug and degradative product was done using algal inhibition and shrimp lethality assays. The biodegradative product of acetaminophen, hydroquinone, has more algal toxicity and less toxicity against shrimp as compared to the parent drug. Whereas for the hydroxychloroquine biodegradative product, oxalic acid has less algal toxicity and more toxicity against shrimp compared to the parent drug. Industrial applications of hydroquinone and the metal leaching role of oxalic acid will give new insight into the bioconversion of expired paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine into value-added products.

Soil management is important for the farmers to improve the crop yield. In nature some invertebrates serve as bioindicators and biomonitors. Biogenic structure built by insects is important for controlling soil erosion and water reserves. Ants and termites nest architecture along with the elemental analysis was studied to evaluate soil health and possible threats imposed by heavy metals in the area. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for various parameters. Systematic study of porosity, composition, and nutritional values of soil in ant nest and termite mound were done. The Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer studies showed that ant nest and termite mound samples were found to contain elements viz., zinc, selenium, lead, cadmium, nickel drought and chromium. Based on Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays, the size of soil samples collected from ant nest and termite were found to be 27.77 nm and 25.56 nm, respectively. The corrosion resistant zirconium and titanium metals were detected in 0.68 and 0.39% concentration in ant nest and termite mound samples, respectively, representing the insect house as a possible source of rich metals. The ant nest and termite mound materials contain quartz, microcline, kaolinite, and clay minerals. Ant nests and termite mounds can thus be used as hydrological indicators to address the problems of soil erosion.

Extensive use of pharmaceutical drugs and its disposal in soil and water reservoirs leads to serious environmental pollution. These pharmaceutical micropollutants are highly water soluble, low biodegradable and easily accumulated in the food chain. Thus, these micropollutants persist in the environment and may cause a serious threat to ecosystem. This review highlights the sources of pharmaceutical micropollutants and adverse effects on ecosystem. The pharmaceutical drugs like such as anti-convulsive drugs, antidepressants and cytostatic drugs are more ecotoxic, hence need to remove them from contaminated environments. Further, review also insights the importance of microbial degradation in management of pharmaceutical pollutions

Social aspects, management, and development are important in all the industries including the pharmaceutical industries. Sustainability management is necessary to be followed even in pharmaceutical industries, and there are many measures or pharmaceutical management practices that will help to achieve social management of pharma products. The chapter will cover the effective pharma products management through proper disposal of medicines and their use by sustainable approach.

The less biodegradable steroidal drug, Prednisolone is one of the widely used drugs in the treatment of autoimmune and infectious diseases. Transformation of prednisolone can be achieved with microbial activity. Isolation of prednisolone-resistant microorganisms was done using a sewage sample. Out of 5 isolates, one isolate was selected for further studies based on maximum tolerability to prednisolone. The isolate was identified based on MALDI-TOF. The strain was found to have a match score of 2.336 with gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae spp pneumoniae DSM3010 4T HAM. The isolate was found to degrade 80% prednisolone on the 5th day of fermentation. The concentration of prednisolone was determined using a colorimetric-based method and HPLC technique.

People have affection for confectionary products. Confectionery products are of two types, baker and sugar confectionary. Dark chocolates belong to sugar confectionery class. The present invention was carried out on the preparation of synbiotic dark chocolates. Synbiotics are food products that contain both prebiotics and probiotic microorganisms, wherein prebiotics encourage the growth of probiotics. The synbiotic dark chocolates were amended with flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) as a prebiotic for LAB. Flax seed contains fiber and phenolic antioxidants which makes them prebiotic source. The isolated LAB culture, which was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides based on morphological, biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF, showed the properties of a probiotic culture viz., tolerance to sodium chloride, bile salt, pH, and temperature, sensitivity to antibiotics, nonhemolytic and production of hydrogen peroxide. Cytotoxic activity of the cell free supernatant was assessed against MDA MB 231 and neuroblastoma cell line. Probiotic strain showed 48% and 30% cytotoxicity against MDA MB 231 and neuroblastoma cell line. The synbiotic chocolate was found to have more antioxidant activity, i.e. 90 U/mL by DPPH assay and 200 (μg Trolox/mL) by FRAP assay. The synbiotic chocolate prepared will be beneficial for the gut health of the humans and will also have excellent nutritional value.

Increase in urbanization leads to more construction of houses, dams, and streets. Reduction of the global warming effects can be carried out by recycling of construction material and searching for eco-friendly construction material. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced with the help of construction material which requires less energy for their production. The concept of eco-friendly construction is based on biomimetic (i.e., finding natural material with potential of endurance and self-cleaning properties). Construction materials like Portland cement and concrete can be replaced by eco-friendly biocement and bioconcrete. Production of biocement and bioconcrete can be done by using plants, algae, and bacteria. Use of less cement in concrete leads to less pollution. Concrete is the mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water. By addition of pozzolan in concrete, the requirement of cement will be reduced. In the current review, major emphasis is given to eco-friendly construction material.