Biotransformation of antibiotic norfloxacin by marine-derived fungi

Abstract

The occurrence of drugs in the environment has called attention due to the adverse effects on the biotic community. Norfloxacin (NOR) is a compound widely used for treatment of serious bacterial infections in human and animals, therefore its monitoring and toxicological effects have been investigated, mainly in aquatic environment. In this study the biotransformation/biodegradation of NOR was followed in the presence of marine-derived fungi for 35 days and the products was identified by LC-MS/MS, based on the similarity between experimental and theoretical exact mass. An analytical method was developed and validated to determine the percentage of NOR biodegradation in the presence of fungi Penicillium raistrickii CBMAI 931 (34.07%), Aspergillus sydowii CBMAI 1241 (58.91%), fungal consortium (57.05%) and in a mineral medium (59.35%).