Devdatta Lad
Abstract
Metformin is a biguanide antihyperglycemic agent. Metformin is considered an antihyperglycemic drug because it lowers blood glucose concentrations in type II diabetes without causing hypoglycemia. Metformin is a widely prescribed and used antidiabetic drug. But Metformin now possesses an environmental concern due to the various environmental threats. It is a commonly detected drug in various aquatic environments. It is not highly bioaccumulative in fish; metformin can be taken up by plants and aquatic organisms and may be metabolized into Guanylurea (GUU). Some studies indicate that GUU, a transformation product of metformin, can be even more toxic than metformin itself. Metformin and GUU have been shown to cause toxic effects on aquatic organisms, including neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metformin can disrupt the function of acetylcholinesterase in aquatic organisms. Metformin also affects the growth and reproduction of small aquatic organisms. It has been determined that certain microorganisms, like Pseudomonas putida and Aminobacter sp., may possess enzyme pathways that allow them to break down GUU. Therefore, they have to be utilized anywhere GUU is found in larger concentrations. It is necessary to investigate several techniques, such as biodegradation, adsorption, and improved oxidation processes, for extracting Metformin from wastewater. It is necessary to develop strategies to improve the biodegradation of GUU and Metformin, such as discovering, improving and employing microbial strains.