With the development of the society, the xenobiotics have brought high potential risk
to human and animal. The study focused on the adverse health effect of xenobiotics
which plays an important role in addressing public health challenge. The special issue
has focused on the toxicity of xenobiotics. We call for manuscripts describing recent
findings and future perspectives in the toxic field of xenobiotics on the human and
animal health. Until the deadline of the special issue, 20 manuscripts have been received
worldwide. After the review process, 7 manuscripts have been accepted by this special
issue. The accepted research manuscripts have focused on the insecticides (Organochlorine
Pesticides, Furia ®180 SC (Zeta-cypermethrin) and Bulldock 125®SC (β-Cyfluthrin) pyrethroid
insecticides), sterilant (zinc gluconate-based chemical sterilant), toxic component
of plant (usnic acid from Cladonia substellata Vainio and swainsonine from locoweed),
and ethyl maltol and iron complexes. The accepted review manuscripts have described
the enzymes and proteins which contributed to IDILI and the various assays and current
trends in developing comprehensive models. They represent the important research finding
and will contribute to the development of toxicology.
Insecticides bring high risk to human and animal through food, water, and air. The
World Health Organization have estimated 3 million cases of severe acute poisoning
(including suicides) and reported cases of intoxication responsible for approximately
2.2 million deaths. The number of incidents of exposure to pyrethroid insecticides
has increased. Organochlorinated compounds (OCPs) are one of the important pesticides
and have been used globally for many years. OCPs are not efficiently eliminated from
the human body and may accrue in tissues because of enterohepatic reabsorption and
affinity to adipose tissue. There has been limited work on interventions to facilitate
elimination of OCPs. Evidence confirmed that enhanced mobilization and excretion via
induced perspiration reduced the body burden of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polychlorinated
biphenyl congeners. Removal of OCPs has also been facilitated by specific interventions
which interrupts the enterohepatic circulation. To confirm that, sweat analysis may
be useful in detecting some accrued OCPs, not found in regular serum testing. This
method supplements the detection method of the OCPs. But perspiration is hard to collect.
It maybe restricts its extensive use. Pyrethroid insecticides are another one of the
important pesticides. Pyrethroid insecticides represent more than 30% of the worldwide
insecticide market. Furia 180 SC is an isomer of cypermethrin insecticide. Bulldock
125 SC is an isomer of cyfluthrin. However, there is little information concerning
the toxic effects of zeta-cypermethrin. But the research on the toxic effect of the
Furia 180 SC (Zeta-cypermethrin) and Bulldock 125 SC (β-cyfluthrin) is still necessary
in the future.
Sclerosing agents as zinc gluconate-based chemical sterilants (Infertile®) are used
for chemical castration, but there is not enough evidence of its safety profiles for
the receivers. Infertile at 60 mM presented risk for animal health. It suggests that
the optimal dose must be less than 6 mM. The future studies must be continued in order
to clarify the safety of Infertile on cells and tissues, in order to better understand
the pathophysiological mechanisms of this drug.
The toxic component of plant often attracts the attention from food safety. Usnic
acid is a compound of natural origin resulting from lichen secondary metabolism. It
is considered one of the most important biologically active metabolites with important
pharmacological properties: antitumor, antibiotic, antiviral, antioxidant, tuberculostatic,
anti-inflammatory, and molluscicide. But limited studies showed toxicological potential
of usnic acid. The teratogenic effect of usnic acid is in the period of organogenesis.
It reveals the importance of evaluating the toxic effects of natural substances for
elucidating the care in their indication as drug, particularly during pregnancy. Swainsonine
is the primary toxin in locoweeds which is toxic plants. Its toxicity often occurs
during pregnancy in livestock, and it may have different effects on embryonic development
depending on the conceptus phase and maternal conditions during acute intoxication.
Limited data showed the potential reproductive and developmental toxicity caused by
swainsonine. The swainsonine caused reproductive and developmental toxicity in both
parents and offspring mice. It suggests that severe reproductive toxicity and developmental
toxicity are associated with swainsonine poisoning.
Ethyl maltol and iron complexes are products of ethyl maltol and the iron found in
the cooking pots used to prepare the Chinese dish, hot-pot. Limited data showed their
safety. The ethyl maltol and iron complexes were toxic, and the targeted endocrine
organs were the liver and kidneys. It suggests that alternative strategies for preparing
the hot-pot, including the use of non-Fe-based cookware, need to be developed and
encouraged to avoid the formation of the potentially toxic complexes. This experiment
focused on the toxic of ethyl maltol and iron complexes, which is related to the Chinese
dish, hot-pot. It is significant and it will attract more attention on these complexes.
Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is a significant source of drug recall
and acute liver failure (ALF) in the United States. While current drug development
processes emphasize general toxicity and drug metabolizing enzyme- (DME-) mediated
toxicity, it has been challenging to develop comprehensive models for assessing complete
idiosyncratic potential. The enzymes and proteins contributed to IDILI, including
ones that affect phase I and phase II metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, drug transporters,
inflammation, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) which are important. It is imperative
to develop various assays to detect individual reactions focusing on each of the mechanisms.
The current trends in developing comprehensive models focused on examining the mechanisms.
This review about IDILI is comprehensive and deeply showed the literature of potential
mechanisms and predictive assays in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury. This
review is significant and presents high value.