Loss of Antibiotic Activity in Ciprofloxacin Irradiated with Ultraviolet Light

Authors

  • María Magali Guillen-Morales Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3958-0420
  • Rafael Manuel de Jesús Mex-Álvarez Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1154-0566
  • María Isabel Novelo-Pérez Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1380-5492
  • Patricia Margarita Garma Quen Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4347-0347
  • Roger Enrique Chan-Martínez Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6563-9023
  • Dylan Manuel Ferrer-Dzul Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Análisis de Medicamentos Área de Farmacia. Campeche, México. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8311-2995

Keywords:

antibiotic activity; ciprofloxacin; ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract

Introduction: The problems caused by the irrational use of antibiotics, as well as their improper disposal, lead to water and soil contamination, which affects crops, plants, animals, and even humans. Therefore, it is essential to reduce environmental contamination by antibiotics to curb the emergence, transmission, and spread of resistant bacteria.

Objectives: To evaluate the loss of bioactivity of ciprofloxacin exposed to ultraviolet light in Artemia salina, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus clausii in order to contribute to the development of methods for the treatment and inactivation of ciprofloxacin.

Methods: Ciprofloxacin solutions were irradiated for two hours with ultraviolet light (254 nm), and the residual bioactivity of the irradiated samples was evaluated using the antimicrobial diffusion and well microdilution methods, as well as the Artemia salina lethality bioassay.

Results: Irradiated ciprofloxacin showed no antibiotic activity, and the exposed Artemia salina achieved 100% survival.

Conclusions: Exposure to ultraviolet radiation causes a significant decrease in the bioactivity of ciprofloxacin due to its degradation; therefore, irradiation can be used as an effective tool to reduce the concentration of ciprofloxacin in contaminated aquatic environments, potentially contributing to the mitigation of bacterial resistance.

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Published

2026-10-18

How to Cite

1.
Guillen-Morales MM, Mex-Álvarez RM de J, Novelo-Pérez MI, Garma Quen PM, Chan-Martínez RE, Ferrer-Dzul DM. Loss of Antibiotic Activity in Ciprofloxacin Irradiated with Ultraviolet Light. Rev Cubana Farm [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 18 [cited 2026 Oct. 18];59. Available from: https://revfarmacia.sld.cu/index.php/far/article/view/1324

Issue

Vol. 59 (2026): publicación continua

Section

ARTÍCULOS ORIGINALES

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Copyright (c) 2026 María Magali Guillen-Morales, Rafael Manuel de Jesús Mex-Álvarez, María Isabel Novelo-Pérez, Patricia Margarita Garma Quen , Roger Enrique Chan-Martínez, Dylan Manuel Ferrer-Dzul

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