Ecotoxicological Assessment of Ibuprofen in Environmental Relevance Models: Impact on <i>Artemia salina</i> and <i>Medicago Sativa</i>

Ibuprofen, one of the most widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, has proven effective in treating various human conditions. However, its persistence in aquatic environments has raised concerns about its ecotoxicological effects. This study assesses the effects of ibuprofen on both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, focusing specifically on seed germination in <i>Medicago sativa</i> and acute toxicity in <i>Artemia salina</i>. The goal is to better understand the environmental impact of ibuprofen and contribute to the development of stricter regulations regarding emerging pollutants. Germination and radicle elongation tests were performed on <i>Medicago sativa</i> seeds exposed to different concentrations of ibuprofen (10, 100, and 1000µg/mL) and colchicine. Seeds were treated in Petri dishes and observed at 24 and 48 hours to measure germination rates and root elongation. Additionally, an acute toxicity test was conducted on <i>Artemia salina</i> with ibuprofen and potassium dichromate, assessing mortality after 24 hours of exposure. Germination Test: At low ibuprofen concentrations (10 and 100µg/mL), germination rates increased, whereas at high concentrations (1000µg/mL), there was a significant inhibition. Colchicine treatment promoted a 95% germination rate at 48 hours, showing a positive effect on seedling growth. Radicle Elongation Assay: Seeds treated with ibuprofen at low concentrations (10 and 100µg/mL) showed greater radicle elongation, while the 1000µg/mL concentration caused significant inhibition. In contrast, colchicine inhibited root growth, consistent with its known effect on microtubule polymerization and cell division. Acute Toxicity Test with <i>Artemia salina</i>: A dose-response analysis revealed that potassium dichromate was significantly more toxic than ibuprofen, with an LD50 of 16.4µg/mL compared to 254.2µg/mL for ibuprofen. This indicates that potassium dichromate is more potent in inducing mortality in <i>Artemia salina</i>. The study demonstrates that ibuprofen has hormetic effects on <i>Medicago sativa</i>, promoting germination and root elongation at low concentrations but inhibiting these processes at higher concentrations. Additionally, potassium dichromate exhibited greater toxicity than ibuprofen. These results underscore the importance of evaluating the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and the need for stronger regulations on pharmaceutical pollutants.