Diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol biodegradation: overconsumed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs at COVID-19 pandemic

Beatriz L Ferreira; Dionisia P Ferreira; Swanny F Borges; Adriana M Ferreira; Fabricio H Holanda; João G M Ucella-Filho; Rodrigo Alves S Cruz; Willian G Birolli; Rafael Luque; Irlon M Ferreira

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1207664

Diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol biodegradation: overconsumed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs at COVID-19 pandemic

Front Microbiol. 2023 Oct 30:14:1207664. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1207664. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Biocatalysis and Applied Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil.
² Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
³ Molecular Oncology Research Center, Institute of Learning and Research, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Universidad ECOTEC, Via Principal Campus Ecotec, Samborondón, Ecuador.

Abstract

The consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have increased significantly in the last years (2020-2022), especially for patients in COVID-19 treatment. NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol are often available without restrictions, being employed without medical supervision for basic symptoms of inflammatory processes. Furthermore, these compounds are increasingly present in nature constituting complex mixtures discarded at domestic and hospital sewage/wastewater. Therefore, this review emphasizes the biodegradation of diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol by pure cultures or consortia of fungi and bacteria at in vitro, in situ, and ex situ processes. Considering the influence of different factors (inoculum dose, pH, temperature, co-factors, reaction time, and microbial isolation medium) relevant for the identification of highly efficient alternatives for pharmaceuticals decontamination, since biologically active micropollutants became a worldwide issue that should be carefully addressed. In addition, we present a quantitative bibliometric survey, which reinforces that the consumption of these drugs and consequently their impact on the environment goes beyond the epidemiological control of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; NSAIDs; SARS-CoV-2; contaminants; mycodegradation.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amapá (FAPEAP); grant no. 88887.568501/2020-00 and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) grant no. 88881.716142/2022-01 for financial support. WB thanks the Brazilian Ministry of Health for his post-doctoral fellowship, grant no. 879335/2018. BF and IF thank for the scholarships financed Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) grant nos. 88887.637671/2021-00 (PDPG) and 88881.716142/2022-01 (PROCAD-AMAZONIA-DRI), respectively.