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idopsis thaliana
Ibuprofen
iences and Chemistry
Later Stage Growth Results
Conclusion
•Ibuprofen has a negative effect on
germination, inhibits root growth, and
delays the emergence of plant organs.
Leaf Emergence with Caffeine
14
Number of Leaves
12
10
water
8
caffeine
6
4
2
0
1
4
Figure 8
8
10
12
14
16
18
Number of Days
•Caffeine has no effect on the
germination or time of emergence of
plant organs, but inhibits root growth
at high concentrations when plants are
grown in nutrient agar media.
However, it may marginally promote
organ emergence when plants are
grown in a soil mix.
Figure 8: Timing of emergence of leaves in water- and caffeine-treated
Arabidopsis. For both groups n=4 plants. Plants in each group
emerged organs at the same time (SD=0). Preliminary results suggest
1,000 ppm caffeine marginally promotes leaf emergence.
Experiments in Progress
•Effect of caffeine and ibuprofen on
seed yield
•Effect of direct application of
caffeine and ibuprofen on plant
organs.
 Preliminary result suggests there
is no significant effect.
Fun Facts
Caffeine
• Caffeine is naturally produced by over 60 types of plants.
• The estimated daily average caffeine consumption of an
adult consumer in the United States is 280 mg.
•Caffeine is the most widely used behaviorally active drug in
the world.
Significance
Current data suggest:
•Levels of ibuprofen and caffeine
found in surface water is not high
enough to negatively impact plant
growth.
•Concentrations of ibuprofen and
caffeine in biosolids may be high
enough to be toxic.
•Possibility exists for synergistic
effects when ibuprofen and caffeine
are applied simultaneously.
These result can serve as a starting
point for investigating the effects of
PPCPs on land plants.
•Caffeine addiction, the bodies dependence on caffeine, can
start in as little as 3 days.
Reference: http://www.overcaffeinated.org/caffeine-facts.php
Ibuprofen
• Ibuprofen is the third most consumed drug in the world, with
an estimated annual production of several kilotons.
•Approximately 9% of the ibuprofen consumed is excreted
unchanged within 24 hours.
•Environmental concentrations of ibuprofen have been found
to range from low part-per-trillion to low part-per-billion
levels.
References: http://ww.medsafe.govt and Murdoch ,R. W., and
Anthony, G. H. 2005. Formation of Catechols via Removal of
Acid Side Chains from Ibuprofen and Related Aromatic Acids.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 71: 6121–6125
Future Direction
•Confirm effects and effective
concentrations of ibuprofen and
caffeine on A. thaliana.
• Test effects of:
-Metabolites of PPCPs.
- Combination of PPCPs.
- Another highly consumed
drug, aspirin.