Uptake, Translocation and Metabolization of Tramadol, Amitriptyline, Orphenadrine and Lidocaine by Garden Cress, Pea and Water Hyacinth

Abstract

Abstract In the present work water hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes) collected from two South African rivers were analyzed with respect to the presence of pharmaceuticals and their major metabolites. Thereby a number of drugs including amitriptyline, orphenadrine, lidocaine, and tramadol could be detected. Particularly for the latter substance relatively high concentrations (more than 5000 ng g− 1 dry plant material) were detected in the water plants. Subsequently the uptake, translocation and metabolization of these four substances was investigated in a laboratory study employing plant garden cress (Lepidium sativum) and pea (Pisum sativum). These model plants were grown hydroponically using a growing medium containing the selected pharmaceuticals at concentrations ranging from 10 µg L− 1 -10 mg L− 1. Time-resolved uptake studies revealed that all four pharmaceuticals were taken up by the roots and further relocated to plant stem and leaves. Investigations on the metabolization of the parent drugs within the plant led to the detection of a series of (mainly) phase I metabolites.