Evaluation of hepatorenal damage induced by benzylpenicilloic acid in mice

Benzylpenicilloic acid (BPNLA) is a byproduct of the natural degradation and enzymatic hydrolysis of penicillin. BPNLA primarily enters and accumulates in the human body through the consumption of animal products. Previous research has mainly focused on drug resistance and the resulting allergic reactions, but as the accumulation of the drug increases, toxicity also manifests. The liver and kidneys are the main organs for drug metabolism and excre- tion of many drugs, and are most prone to toxic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether BPNLA causes hepatorenal toxicity. All C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups and administered orally 2.925, 146.25, and 7312.5 μg/kg b.wt (body weight) of BPNLA, or an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline (control) for 35 days. The results showed that BPNLA could lead to a decrease in the organ coefficient of the liver, as well as struc- tural abnormalities in the liver and kidneys. Further research found that liver and kidney function markers, lipid peroxidation markers (MDA), and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) significantly increased compared to the control group. Moreover, the levels of antioxidant markers (GSH, SOD, GPX) decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, the results clearly demonstrated that even relatively low concentrations of BPNLA can cause liver and kidney damage, highlighting the need for concern regarding human exposure to BPNLA.