Evaluation of toxic effects of platinum-based antineoplastic drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin) on green alga Chlorella vulgaris

Platinum-based antineoplastic drugs (PBADs) enter the environment via hospital and municipal wastes as reactive and highly toxic molecules. Chlorella vulgaris is a freshwater microalgae and is used as an excellent aquatic model for toxicity assessment. In the present study, the toxicity of PBADs to C. vulgaris was investigated for better understanding of PBADs environmental toxicity. The algae were cultured in Bold´s Basal Medium (BBM) and exposed to different concentrations of PBADs for 48, 72 and 96 h. Then, cell proliferation, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, protein content, malondialdehyde (MDA) release and antioxidant potential were determined. IC50 s of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin for 96 h of exposure were 106.2, 124.3 and 153.9 mg/L respectively. Cell proliferation, synthesis of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and algal protein content significantly decreased in a time and dose-dependent manner. The release of MDA to culture media significantly increased and antioxidant potential decreased. Cisplatin showed more toxic effects on C. vulgaris compared to carboplatin and oxaliplatin indicating its severe toxicity for marine organisms. PBADs induce their toxic effects in algal cells via the interaction with DNA, production of free radicals (such as reactive oxygen species), lipid peroxidation and cell wall damages. Due to these toxic effects of PBADs for various environmental organisms, there must be severe restriction on their release into the environment.