Ivermectin, an antiparasitic medication, affects the pigment level of the hydrophyte Lemna minor

Abstract

Ivermectin (IVM) is a potent antiparasitic drug commonly used to treat parasitic diseases in
plants and animals. It is widely used in aquaculture to control parasites, but it can also find its
way into water bodies, where it persists and poses a risk to non-target organisms such as
hydrophytes. Exposure to elevated levels of IVM can adversely affect the physiology of
hydrophytes, affecting the health and balance of entire aquatic ecosystems.In this study, we
investigated the effects of IVM at varying concentrations (1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10000 µg L ) -1
on the physiology of the hydrophyte Lemna minor. We found leaf size remained normal at 1 µgL
1
2
2-1
(0.14 cm ) but decreased significantly to 0.13 cm at 10 µgL and 0.11 cm at 10000 µgL .
2-1-1
Chlorophyll a levels were most affected at 100 µg L , where they decreased from a control value -1-1-1-1
of 1.2 mg g to 0.1 mg g , followed by 10 µg L (0.25 mg g ) and 1 µg L (0.6 mg g ). -1-1-1
Chlorophyll b levels were most affected at 1000 µgL-1 (0.05 mg g ), followed by 1 µgL (0.7 mg -1-1-1-1
g ) and 1000 µg L (1.2 mg g ). Total chlorophyll levels were most affected at 10000 µgL-1 (0.5 -1-1-1
mg g ), followed by 1 µg L and 10 µg L (0.7 mg g-1), and were highest at 1000 µg L (1.2mg g-1
1
).Our results show that IVM can threaten hydrophytes and the entire aquatic ecosystem, even
at low concentrations.