Journal of Xenobiotics最新文献

{"title":"Sorption of Antibiotics in Sewage Sludge: Distribution Coefficients, Sludge Characteristics, and Implications for Environmental Fate.","authors":"Wonsik Shin, Pil-Gon Kim, Min-Ho Oak","doi":"10.3390/jox16030112","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030112","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The sorption behavior of antibiotics in wastewater treatment systems plays a critical role in determining their environmental fate and removal efficiency. In this study, the sorption of 15 antibiotics representing multiple classes was investigated using two sewage sludge samples with different physicochemical characteristics. Batch equilibrium experiments were conducted to evaluate time-dependent sorption behavior and to determine solid-water distribution coefficients (<i>K_d</i>). The results showed that sorption occurred rapidly, with most compounds approaching a stable concentration within 24 h. The <i>K_d</i> values varied widely depending on the compound, ranging from 74 to 737 L/kg. For 13 of the 15 investigated antibiotics, higher <i>K_d</i> values were observed in sludge B than in sludge A, with the largest difference observed for tiamulin (402 ± 53 and 737 ± 76 L/kg for sludge A and sludge B, respectively). Sludge B generally exhibited higher sorption capacity for most compounds than sludge A, despite having a lower specific surface area, indicating that sorption was governed primarily by chemical composition and pore structure rather than surface area alone. Elemental and morphological analyses suggested that differences in metal-associated components and pore structure may contribute to the higher sorption capacity observed in sludge B. However, the specific sorption mechanisms could not be directly confirmed by the present analyses. Comparison with previous studies confirmed that the measured <i>K_d</i> values fall within reported ranges but are generally higher for sulfonamides, suggesting enhanced sorption capacity of the investigated sludge matrices. Application of an equilibrium-based model demonstrated that sorption alone can account for approximately 20-70% of antibiotic removal under typical activated sludge conditions, depending on compound affinity. These findings highlight the importance of sludge-specific properties in controlling antibiotic partitioning and demonstrate that incorporating such characteristics into predictive models can improve the accuracy of environmental fate assessments in wastewater treatment systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13300974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vascular Endocrine-Disrupting Effects of Bisphenol F and Bisphenol S on Human Umbilical Artery.","authors":"Fatima Abrantes-Soares, Mariana Marques Santos, Melissa Mariana, Margarida Lorigo, Elisa Cairrao","doi":"10.3390/jox16030111","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) have been used in several everyday products to replace bisphenol A (BPA), since exposure to BPA has been associated with the development of several pathologies. However, recent studies have also been associating exposure to BPA substitutes with the development of various pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, and the safety of BPA substitutes for human health has been questioned. Thus, this study aimed to investigate and compare BPA, BPF and BPS effects on arterial tone and to explore the mechanisms involved. The results suggest that BPA, BPS and BPF exert non-genomic and endothelium-independent relaxant effects on arteries and smooth muscle cells from the umbilical cord. Regarding genomic effects, the results suggest that BPA, BPF, and BPS disrupted the primary mechanisms underlying HUA relaxation by interfering with the cGMP signaling pathway and modulating the Ca²⁺ channels activity. Moreover, these results suggest that BPF alters the vasorelaxant response more than BPA and BPS. Therefore, replacing BPA with its substitutes does not appear to be beneficial for human cardiovascular health. Thus, in the future, the vascular effects of these bisphenols should be further evaluated to clarify their modes of action and future implications for maternal-fetal health.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13300960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal Anemia and Pediatric Neurodevelopment in Children from Mothers Exposed to Mixed Heavy Metals in Suriname.","authors":"Anisma R Gokoel, Arti Shankar, Simran F Mokiem, Ashna D Hindori-Mohangoo, Maureen Y Lichtveld, Jeffrey K Wickliffe, Wilco C W R Zijlmans","doi":"10.3390/jox16030110","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maternal anemia and prenatal exposure to neurotoxic metals are widespread in low- and middle-income countries and may affect early childhood development. In Suriname, where mercury contamination from artisanal gold mining and social disparities coexist, we examined associations between maternal anemia, prenatal exposure to mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and cadmium (Cd), and early neurodevelopment. The study included 755 pregnant women and 644 children (10-26 months) from the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) cohort. Maternal anemia was defined using WHO criteria for Hb, metals were measured in maternal blood, and child development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (BSID-III-NL). Analyses used non-parametric tests, correlations, and multivariable regression. Anemia, though common (34%), was not independently associated with cognitive, language, motor, or social-emotional outcomes. However, iron status was not directly measured; therefore, the absence of an observed association should not be interpreted as evidence that maternal iron deficiency is unrelated to early neurodevelopment. Pb showed the most consistent associations, with higher prenatal levels predicting poorer cognitive, motor, and language scores. Hg demonstrated weaker but significant negative associations with several domains, while Mn and Cd showed limited direct effects. Interaction analyses suggested a potential modifying role of Se in certain metal-neurodevelopment associations; however, these findings require confirmation in future studies. Overall, these results suggest that prenatal exposure to neurotoxic metals and sociodemographic disparities may be important contributors to variation in early neurodevelopment in this population, but causal inferences cannot be made from this cross-sectional analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13301320/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Ecological Threats to Monitoring Tools: Multi-Contaminant Profiles in <i>Silurus glanis</i> and <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> for Pollution Tracking and Preliminary Food/Feed Safety Assessment.","authors":"Sara Glorio Patrucco, Roberta Giugliano, Alessandra Griglione, Giorgia Zicarelli, Camilla Mossotto, Leo Costa, Giuseppe Esposito, Alice Gabetti, Serena Anselmi, Tecla Bentivoglio, Barbara Vivaldi, Valentina Ciccotelli, Bruno Aimone, Marino Prearo, Damià Barceló, Monia Renzi, Stefania Squadrone, Paolo Pastorino","doi":"10.3390/jox16030109","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Invasive alien species (IAS) such as <i>Silurus glanis</i> and <i>Procambarus clarkii</i> represent major ecological threats but may also serve as effective bioindicators of environmental contamination; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate their potential for multi-contaminant monitoring and assess their suitability as alternative feed and food resources within a circular economy framework. Multi-contaminant profiles were investigated in <i>S. glanis</i> and <i>P. clarkii</i> from Avigliana Lakes (NW Italy), analyzing trace elements, rare earth elements (REEs), and organic contaminants in fish muscle, and microplastics (MPs) in intestinal tracts. In <i>S. glanis</i>, total trace element concentrations and ΣREEs were markedly higher in Small Lake than in Great Lake, with ΣREEs reaching 0.445 and 0.056 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Mean concentrations of the regulated elements in Great Lake were 0.017 mg/kg w.w. (As), 0.003 mg/kg w.w. (Cd), and 0.16 mg/kg w.w. (Pb), increasing in Small Lake to 0.19, 0.03, and 1.86 mg/kg w.w., respectively. In <i>P. clarkii</i>, contamination levels were lower, with ΣREEs averaging 0.074 mg/kg w.w. and mean concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb of 0.25, 0.006, and 0.21 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Organic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs), and pesticides, were generally below limits of quantification. MPs were detected in 100% of specimens, with mean concentrations of 4.2 ± 2.15 and 4.4 ± 2.70 MPs per intestinal tract in <i>S. glanis</i> (Great and Small Lake, respectively) and 2.7 ± 2.39 MPs/intestinal tract in <i>P. clarkii</i>. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) indicated significant site-related differences in <i>S. glanis</i> and species-related differences between <i>S. glanis</i> and <i>P. clarkii</i> within Great Lake. Most regulated contaminants were below applicable EU thresholds; however, Pb in <i>S. glanis</i> from Small Lake exceeded the maximum level established for fish muscle intended for human consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13302379/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) Increases Intracellular Labile Fe²⁺ Levels and Induces Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts.","authors":"Alfredo Cruz-Gregorio, Alejandro Silva-Palacios, Javier A Belmont-Díaz, María Del Pilar Ramos-Godinez, Rebeca López-Marure","doi":"10.3390/jox16030108","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Food-grade titanium dioxide (E171) is widely used as a food additive and has raised concerns about its potential systemic toxicity. However, its impact on cardiac cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function remains incompletely understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of E171 on intracellular labile iron, oxidative stress, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and mitochondrial bioenergetics in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. Exposure to E171 leads to a significant increase in intracellular labile iron (Fe²⁺) levels. This alteration was accompanied by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reduced intracellular glutathione levels, consistent with enhanced oxidative stress following E171 exposure. Ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed marked mitochondrial alterations, including reduced cristae density and structural damage. Functional assessment of mitochondrial bioenergetics demonstrated impaired oxidative phosphorylation and reduced maximal respiratory capacity in E171-treated cells. The potential protective role of quercetin (a powerful antioxidant and iron chelator) was explored in mitochondrial respiration assays; however, at the concentration and exposure conditions tested, quercetin treatment did not fully restore the bioenergetic parameters induced by E171. Collectively, these findings indicate that E171 increases intracellular labile iron levels and promotes oxidative stress, associated with alterations in mitochondrial ultrastructure and impaired bioenergetic function in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, suggesting a potential mechanism by which food additives may affect cardiac cellular metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13301620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactic Acid Bacteria as In Vivo Protective Strategy Against Dietary Methylmercury Exposure.","authors":"Luzmila Burbano, Pilar Rodríguez-Viso, Manuel Zúñiga, Vicente Monedero, Vicenta Devesa, Dinoraz Vélez","doi":"10.3390/jox16030107","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to characterize the toxicokinetics of dietary Hg and to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains capable of reducing methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in organs. BALB/c mice and Wistar rats were exposed via drinking water [Hg(II) MeHg] and feed (swordfish, mushrooms). The data showed that the feed matrix did not modify MeHg accumulation, though it reduced Hg(II) accumulation compared to the data observed with drinking water. Two in vitro LAB strains (<i>L. intestinalis</i> LE1 and <i>L. johnsonii</i> LE2) were selected to determine their efficacy in reducing tissue accumulation in mice exposed for 40 days to dietary MeHg. Daily dosing of both strains produced a relevant reduction in Hg content in the organs of animals exposed through drinking water (18-64%). The LE1 strain also reduced Hg content in animals exposed via feed (13-40%). LAB could be a useful strategy in populations which are chronically exposed to Hg through their diet.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13302665/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic Opioid Use and Endocrine Disruption in Women: Mechanisms, Life-Course Vulnerabilities, and Reproductive Health Implications.","authors":"Doonyah Alucozai, Elizabeth Kwo","doi":"10.3390/jox16030106","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic opioid use disrupts the female endocrine system, affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes. In women, these disruptions manifest as menstrual irregularity, infertility, early menopause, reduced bone mineral density, adrenal insufficiency, and altered mood and sexual function. Despite the magnitude of the opioid epidemic and its impact on women of reproductive age, the existing evidence base is overwhelmingly male: across the major studies of opioid-induced endocrinopathy reviewed here, 99.5 percent of participants were male. Sex-specific mechanisms, prevalence estimates, and clinical thresholds therefore remain poorly defined, and current guidelines do not adequately address the reproductive, skeletal, and adrenal consequences of chronic opioid exposure in women. This review synthesizes available human and preclinical evidence on opioid-induced endocrine dysfunction in women across the lifespan, distinguishing established findings from hypotheses extrapolated from male or animal data. We propose a practical framework for routine endocrine screening of HPG, HPA, and HPT axis function, bone health, and fertility, and outline the roles of relevant specialties in multidisciplinary care. Available evidence suggests a substantial risk of endocrine dysfunction in women on chronic opioid therapy, but the precise prevalence remains unknown. Sex-sensitive research, guidelines, and routine screening are urgently needed to close this gap.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13301012/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical Simulation of Atmospheric Pollutant Dispersion on Campus: Impacts of Wind Environment and Newly Constructed Buildings' Height.","authors":"Chongxi Liao, Luxin Ren, Lulu Xu, Renjie Zhao, Baocong Zhao, Sihao Lin, Ting Zhang, Yijie Zhuang, Yanpeng Gao, Yuemeng Ji","doi":"10.3390/jox16030105","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toluene, as a common organic solvent in academic laboratories in university campuses, poses potential exposure concerns to students and staff in university campuses. Hence, by using a computational fluid dynamics simulation, we investigated the dispersion characteristics of toluene at a campus in Guangzhou under meteorological conditions and the impact of newly constructed buildings on toluene concentrations. The numerical simulation results reveal that toluene is readily accumulated in the free movement area under the prevailing east wind, in the administrative area under the prevailing north-northeast wind, and in the teaching area under the prevailing south wind. Therein, the teaching buildings (TB3-TB6) possess the highest average concentration of toluene compared with other functional areas. In the presence of newly constructed buildings, the toluene concentrations are decreased under the south-southeast wind but are aggravated under the southeast wind. As the height increases, under south-southeast winds, the merging of vortex structures continuously reduces toluene concentrations at TB3 and TB4 and the expansion of the wake region rebounds the toluene pollution at TB5 and TB6; under southeast winds, the expanding vertical vortex structures aggravate toluene pollution at TB3 and TB5 but attenuate toluene pollution at TB4 and TB6. Our results reveal that the teaching areas of the target campus represent a critical zone for potential student exposure during summer and require particular attention. This study provides new insights into the coupled effects of prevailing wind conditions and campus morphology on VOC dispersion characteristics and improves the understanding of airflow pollutant interactions in complex campus environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13301529/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tissue-Specific Biomarkers and Bioaccumulation in <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>: Seasonal Anthropogenic Stress in the North Ionian Sea (Calabria, Italy).","authors":"Maria Assunta Iovine, Mariacristina Filice, Luisa Albarano, Alessia Caferro, Sandra Imbrogno, Rosa Mazza, Francesca Esposito, Maria Costantini, Valerio Zupo, Alfonsina Gattuso, Giovanni Libralato, Maria Carmela Cerra","doi":"10.3390/jox16030104","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activities, highlighting the need for sensitive tools to assess environmental risk. An active biomonitoring approach, using the Mediterranean mussel (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>), was employed to evaluate anthropogenic chemical contamination in the North Ionian Sea, a still poorly studied area, by comparing mussel health status before (PrePT) and after (PostPT) the peak tourist season. Bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s was quantified in whole organisms. Oxidative stress was assessed in the gills and digestive gland through catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and oxidized carbonyl proteins (OMP). Neurotoxicity was evaluated via acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, while gene expression of stress-related biomarkers was analysed for metallothioneins (<i>mt10</i>, <i>mt20</i>), <i>sod</i>, <i>cat</i>, Glutathione S-transferase (<i>gst</i>), and Heat Shock Protein 70 (<i>hsp70</i>). Results suggest a progressive contaminant accumulation likely associated with intensified summer anthropogenic activity. Biomarker responses revealed clear activation of oxidative stress, with tissue-specific patterns. The findings confirm the effectiveness of active biomonitoring and multibiomarker approach in assessing coastal water quality and provide valuable baseline data for the management of marine ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13300931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subchronic Cadmium-Induced Xenobiotic Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats: Antioxidant and Reproductive Protection by Standardized Silymarin with Molecular Docking Insights.","authors":"Imen Hammami, Fatma Arrari, Rahma Mahjoub, Ridha Ben Ali, Haifa El Hentati, Afef Nahdi, Eduardo Alberto López-Maldonado, Emna Talbi","doi":"10.3390/jox16030103","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jox16030103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cadmium is a widespread environmental xenobiotic that poses serious risks to hepatic, renal, and male reproductive functions. Natural compounds such as silymarin, a bioactive extract from <i>Silybum marianum</i>, have gained attention for their protective potential against xenobiotic-induced toxicity. This study investigated whether subchronic oral administration of silymarin (30 mg/kg) mitigates cadmium-induced toxicity (5 mg/kg) in adult rats over six weeks. Twenty-four rats were assigned to four groups: control, cadmium-exposed, silymarin-treated, and co-treated. Biochemical, hematological, oxidative stress, and reproductive parameters were assessed. Sperm quality was evaluated using CASA, and testicular tissues were examined histologically. Cadmium exposure significantly reduced body weight (-30.8%), elevated transaminases (AST, ALT; <i>p</i> < 0.01), increased serum creatinine and total cholesterol, and induced multi-organ oxidative stress, as reflected by elevated malondialdehyde and markedly reduced SOD, CAT, and thiol group levels in testicular, hepatic, and renal tissues (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Sperm concentration dropped from 75.2 to 21.8 × 10⁶/mL, with total motility falling to 35% and progressive motility to 18%, accompanied by severe seminiferous tubule degeneration (Score III in 5 rats). Co-administration of silymarin partially restored these parameters, sperm concentration recovered to 38.5 × 10⁶/mL, total motility improved to 50.2%, and antioxidant enzyme activities and liver/kidney biomarkers showed significant but incomplete recovery (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Molecular docking revealed favorable binding affinities of silybin toward GPx (-8.4 kcal/mol), CAT (-8.3 kcal/mol), and SOD (-6.4 kcal/mol), offering a preliminary computational hypothesis suggesting possible interactions between silybin and antioxidant enzymes, pending experimental validation. Silymarin alone exerted no adverse effects. These findings establish silymarin as a partial but promising multi-organ cytoprotectant against cadmium toxicity, and highlight the need for future studies optimizing dosing strategies, exploring longer treatment durations, and investigating combination approaches with metal chelators or Nrf2-activating agents to achieve complete tissue recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":42356,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Xenobiotics","volume":"16 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13301452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}