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Background: Doxepin is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Considering the importance of this drug in treating some nervous diseases, its side effects seem to be important on the endocrine axis. In this study, the effects of doxepin on the concentration of testosterone, FSH and LH level and spermatogenesis were studied.
 Materials and methods: This experimental study was done on 40 male Wistar rats that were divided into 5 groups of 8. The control group received nothing. The sham group was given distilled water as a solvent. The experimental groups were injected 35, 70 and 140 mg/kg of the drug orally for 21 days, respectively. The blood samples were taken at 22th day and the concentration of testosterone, FSH and LH were measured by RIA method. In addition, at the 22th day, the testes were separated and histological changes were studied among experimental, sham and control groups. The results were evaluated by using ANOVA and Duncan tests.
Results: The results showed that 140 mg/kg of doxepin reduced serum testosterone level, while it increased FSH and LH levels (p<0.05). Histological investigations of the testes showed a decline on spermatogenesis chain in dose of 140 mg/kg of the drug.
Conclusion: This study showed that doxepin decreases the concentration of testosterone level and the number of spermatogenic cells and increases FSH and LH levels at high doses. Therefore, it may weaken the function of reproductive activity.

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Background: Finasteride, a 4-azasteroid compound, is a specific inhibitor of type P 5α-reductase that converts testosterone into 5α-dihydrotestosterone. In the present study, the effects of human dose of finasteride on the number of spermatogenic cells, seminiferous, prostatic and epididymal tubules diameter and thickness of mature NMRI mouse were investigated, both in in vivo and in vitro conditions. Material and methods: In this experimental study, in in vivo condition, 18 mature NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of 6: control (without treatment), sham (treatment whit physiologic serum) and experimental (treatment with drug). Experimental group was received intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg/day finasteride for 7 days. In in vitro condition, testes, prostates and epididyms of 18 mature NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of 6: control (fixation with bouin without treatment), sham (treatment with physiologic serum) and experimental (treatment with 5 mg/kg/day of finasteride in culture media for 3 days). Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Tukey test by SPSS software. P- value< 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In in vivo condition, treatment with finasteride did not cause significant reduction in the number of spermatogenic cells, seminiferous tubules diameter compared with control group. But, in in vitro condition, significant decrease was observed. In both conditions, the drug could cause significant decrease in prostatic tubules diameter and thickness compared with control group. Diameter and thickness of epididymis tubules were decreased just in in vitro condition.
Conclusion: Finasteride can act in long-term treatment, high doses and in in vitro condition better than other conditions.

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Background: Cabergoline is a strong dopaminergic agonist that is derived from Ergot fungus. Although, this drug can be so important in treating many disorders such as hyperprolactinemia, but its side effects are considerable on the endocrinal axis. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of cabergoline on serum levels of TSH, T4 and T3 hormones in adult male rats.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult male wistar rats were used in five groups of eight. The drug was subcutaneously injected for a period of 14 days. The experimental groups received 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg, respectively. The control group received no drug. The sham group received only distilled water. At the end of 14th day, blood samples were taken and the concentration of TSH, T4 and T3 were measured by RIA. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and TUKEY test between the control and experimental group. Results: Serum levels of TSH and T4 hormones in the experimental groups with doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg showed statistically significant decrease compared with control group (p<0.05). Concentration of T3 hormone showed significant increase in the experimental group with 0.1 mg/kg in comparison with control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Cabergoline probably decreases the release of TSH and T4 by stimulating the D2-dopaminergic receptor existing in thyrotrophic cells. According to the increase of T3 concentration with low dose of drug, cabergoline may have different physiological effects in different amounts, and alter the function of pituitary –thyroid axis.

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Background: According to several manufacturers of povidone iodine solution in Iran, the quality of the commercially available povidone iodine solutions were evaluated according to the pharmacopeial criteria. The effect of dilution factor on the antibacterial action of the products was also investigated.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, pH, contents of available iodine and iodide of the products were determined according to BP 2009 using sodium thiosulfate. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29737 and Pseudomona aeroginosa ATCC 28753, as the gram positive and gram negative indicator, were used in this study. The microbicidal activities of different dilutions (1, 1/5, 1/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/80, 1/100, 1/200 and 1/300) of domestic as well as imported brand products were evaluated in the periods of 15, 30, 60 and 120 seconds.
Results: All of the formulations were within the accepted pharmacopoeial limits. Bactericidal effect of the products increased with the degree of dilution, although the optimum dilution factor was different for each product. The most effective dilution titer was 1/10 in 15 seconds which was much better than the undiluted solution probably due to decrease in free iodine value which affects antibacterial activity of the product. Higher dilutiontiter was less effective.
Conclusion: The dilution factor is a critical criterion in povidone iodone products to achieve its optimal antibacterial effects due to the variation of free iodine in individual commercially available products which could also affect their available iodine.

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Background: The learning and short memory are the most important parts of nerve system, and the interruption of these systems have always been very interested subject to the scientists and researchers. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of cinnamon extract on learning and short memory of mouse.
Materials and Methods: This lab trial was done on twenty mice in laboratory. The study was carried out on four groups of mousse by using Shuttle Box equipment, the mice were divided into four groups and one group used as a reference and the other three groups were used as a result of study. The data was analyst by ANOVA and Scheffe methods using SPSS ver.14.
Results: After three days, mean score of learning was 67.9±7.7 that decreased to 49.9±8.8 in mice taking cinnamon with dose of 500 mg/kg (p<0.022). Also, mean score of short memory was 84.5±10.6 that decreased to 49.2±21.4 in mice taking cinnamon with dose of 500 mg/kg (p<0.024).
Conclusion: This study showed that cinnamon will effectively decrease the learning and short memory parts of nerve system. It is recommended to set more studies with more samples to approve more reliable findings.

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Background: Iodine and Iodophore have been longley used as antiseptic to prevent infections with good efficacy and safety. The aim of this study was to formulate new povidone iodine 7.5% antiseptic foam and evaluate its antibacterial effect.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, in the first step, the effects of the foaming agents including Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Nonoxynol 9 were studied and then the effect of pH and different buffer formulations including citrate, phosphate citrate and phosphate buffers on the organoleptic properties and the amount of the free iodine were evaluated according to the USP 32 criteria. The effects of the emollient such as glycerin and glycerox HE were evaluated and the accelerated stability test was taken for optimum formulations. Finally, the antimicrobial effect of the proper formulation was evaluated.
Results: SLES 3% in Citrate buffer with the pH 3.5 showed the best results for the quality of the foam and glycerin 1% was selected as proper emollient agent in presence of poloxamer 407 as foam stabilizer. The stability test was done on the superior formula and it proved its antiseptic properties.
Conclusion: The foam formulation contained povidone iodine 7.5%, SLES 3%, Poloxamer (407) 2%, citrate buffer and glycerin 1% has passed stability as well as and antimicrobial effects tests therefore, it can be used as a new antiseptic product and an appropriate detergent to prevent spreading of infectious disease.

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Background: Water used in the pharmaceutical industry should have special physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. One of the quality items of pharmaceutical water is level of microbial content. For this reason selection of effective disinfection method is the main item for design of pharmaceutical water systems. Water systems can be maintained at temperature below 10 ºC and more than 70 ºC but maintaining of water at ambient temperature could increase of microbial content. In this condition use of disinfectant is useful for reducing of microbial content. Some of them such as chloride, ozone and hydrogen peroxide due to good results have more application.
Materials and Methods: In this study, effect of three disinfectants chloride, ozone and hydrogen peroxide with 1 ppm concentration, consider on five microorganisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and E.coli.
Results: Counting and decreasing of microorganisms showed the efficiency of disinfectants.
Conclusion: Finally ozone was selected as the best disinfectant due to high efficiency.

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Background: The short break in cerebral blood flow causes permanent brain injury and behavioral dysfunction. The hippocampus, specifically the CA1 pyramidal cells, is highly vulnerable to ischemic injuries. There is no effective pharmacological strategy for improving brain tissue damage induced by cerebral ischemia. Previous studies reported that pentoxifylline has a neuroprotective effect on brain trauma and it is well known that endogenous estrogen improves stroke outcome during vascular occlusion. In this study, the possible positive effects of pentoxifylline and estrogen on behavioral deficit and neuronal damage were studied in female Wistar rats in estrous phase subjected to an experimental model of transient global brain ischemia.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, female Wistar rats (n= 56) were assigned to control, ischemia, vehicle, and pentoxifylline - treated (200 mg/kg IP) groups and all of them were in their estrous phase. Pentoxifylline was administered at 1 h before and 1 h after ischemia. Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion.Morris water maze and nissl staining was used for all groups.
 Results: According to Morris water maze test results, cerebral ischemia could not exert any negative effect on cognitive spatial abilities after reperfusion and there were no significant differences between groups. In Nissl study, there were significant differences between number of pyramidal cells in both control and pentoxifylline - treated groups (P≤0.05), either ischemia and vehicle groups.
 Conclusion: Our study illustrated that pentoxifylline can reduce CA1 cell damages and in presence of estrogen prevents any cognitive impairment in female rats which were subjected to brain global ischemia.
 Keywords: Pentoxifylline, Spatial Memory, Brain Ischemia, Estrogen.

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Background: Cerebral ischemia is known as a main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and there was no effective treatment yet. Global cerebral ischemia causes loss of pyramidal cells of brain cortex following global ischemic/reperfusion. Recently, using immunophilin ligands has been considered as a potential and appropriate strategy for neuroprotection. Since it was observed that tacrolimus (FK506), a useful immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation, provides neuroprotection and prevents neuronal damage,the importance of immunophilins in the development of neuroprotectors has emerged. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic effect of the immunosuppressant agent FK506 in rat after global cerebral ischemia.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 25 Wistar rats were assigned to control (intact), ischemia and 3 FK506 treated (1,3,6 mg/kg) groups. Both common carotid arteries were occluded for 20 minutes followed by reperfusion. In 3 experimental groups, tacrolimus or FK506 was given as a single dose exactly at the time of reperfusion respectively as 1, 3, 6 mg/kg by intravenous administration (IV). The same doses repeated by intraperitoneally administration (IP) 48 hours after reperfusion. After 4 days, the rats were sacrificed and brain sections were stained by H & E and Nissl.
Results: Our findings showed that 20 min ischemia decreased the number of the cortex pyramidal cells. But there were significant differences between number of cortex pyramidal cells in ischemia and FK506 (6mg/kg) groups.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that tacrolimus has a neurotrophic effect on pyramidal cells of brain cortex and may candidate for treatment of ischemia brain damage.

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Background: Although Stachys lavandulifolia is growing in the most parts of Iran and regional countries and it has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antianxiety effetcs as well as controls signs of dysmenorhoorea, there are limited data regarding its toxicity potentials. Acute toxicity and “No Observable Adverse Effect Level” of this medicinal herb have been recently reported by our group, but present study was conducted to find the histopathological effects of the extract in order to suggest the appropriate doses for further clinical studies on its oral pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 60 female mice were divided into 30 cases and 30 controls. Stachys lavandulifolia extract in doses of 7 mg/kg (mild), 70 mg/kg (moderate) and 140 mg/kg (high) were administered in 45- day model. All histopathological changes were assessed in baseline, midpoint, and endpoint and after the recovery period and compared with control group.
Results: Other than significant weight changes in some target organs, abnormal histopathological changes were detected in liver, kidney and spleen after 45 days in a dose and time dependent manner but all abnormalities were returned to normal state after the recovery period in day 90.
Conclusion: Stachys lavandulifolia extract can induce mild dose- dependent toxicity in liver, kidney and spleen. So, doses less than 70 mg⁄kg should be prescribed in long- term. However, this changes isn’t associated with clinical symptoms, and these mild toxic effects are normalized after the recovery period.

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Background: As cytotoxicity and antibacterial properties are considered as two essential factors for advanced wound care dressings, many attempts have been made to introduce and apply potent substances to provide these requirements. In this study, keratin as a valuable substance extracted of human hair waste and fabricated to a nanofibrous scaffold for achieving to least cytotoxic and improved antibacterial properties.
Materials and Methods: Keratin was extracted of human hair waste by an alkaline method and it was characterized by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis method. Extracted keratin was accompanied in different concentrations with PVA and silver nanoparticles and then fabricated into nano-fibrous scaffold through electrospinning method. Fabricated scaffolds were investigated and compared by scanning electron microscopy, measuring antibacterial activity (AATCC Test method 100-2004) and MTT assay (directly and by ISO 10993-5 standard method).
Results: Keratin with molecular masses of 56—65 kDa observed in the extracted substance. 3D scaffolds of nanofibers with diameter between 90-180 nm fabricated with different concentrations of kertain successfully. With the increase in keratin concentrations in fabricated scaffolds, their antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (ATCC8793) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538) bacteria were improved significantly. Furthermore, incorporating of keratin caused improved cell viability about 21% more in compare with the control sample.
Conclusion: Valuable keratin was obtained from an economical source with an alkaline method. Beside the intrinsic and proven properties of keratin such as compatibility with human skin, introducing this substance to nanofibrous scaffolds caused improved antibacterial properties and cell viability making it as a potent candidate for advanced wound caring purposes.

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Background: Nowadays, inhaled corticosteroids have become the core of therapy for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fluticasone propionate (FP) is among the most lipophilic steroids (water solubility ~ 0.1 mg/ml) and its clinical efficacy has been confirmed in many studies. The inclusion of different carrier materials in a dry powder inhaler (DPI) system can alter formulation performance, which might be attributable to variation in the adhesion between drug and carrier particles.

Materials and methods: To this aim, we used two different carriers to be mixed in different times with drug on the one hand to facilitate the powder flow during manufacturing, and on the other hand to help fluidization upon patient inhalation. The prepared DPI formulations were examined in terms of drug content uniformity upon the physical blending, particle shape, and in vitro pulmonary deposition. The latter was determined using an Andersen cascade impactor and Cyclohaler® as a single-dose DPI.

Results: Our results revealed that the highest fine particle fraction (FPF) and fine particle dose (FPD) value belonged to the formulation contained FP: mannitol, mixed in 30 minutes.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that using mannitol as the coarse carrier can improve the physical properties as well as the aerosolization behavior of the resultant DPI formulations.

Keywords: Dry powder inhaler (DPI), Fluticasone propionate, Lactose, Mannitol.

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Background: As depression is one of the common diseases in the world and because of the lack of proper response via usual medications, using electromagnet fields (EMF), as an alternative treatment, has become noticeable. Thus, in the present study, the effect of EMF with low frequencies was investigated on the treatment of depression.

Materials and methods: The experimental study was carried out on 32 male mice (albino, mean weight of 30g) after their adaptation in animal house. The animals were classified into 4 groups (n=8). All 4 groups were injected with high dose of reserpine (5 mg/kg) i.p. and from those, 3 groups exposed with EMF (10, 25, and 50 HZ frequencies, respectively, with intense 250µT) for one week, 30 minutes daily. In all 3 groups, the signs of depression (sedation, righting reflexes and swimming), diarrhea, eyes hemorrhage, and feet and hands hemorrhage were observed and compared with control group (those without exposing to EMFs).

Results: Reserpine-induced depression caused sedation, righting reflex disorders, swimming difficulty, diarrhea and eye bleeding. The sedation in 10 and 25 HZ was significantly decreased. EMF in all frequencies decreased sings significantly, particularly in 25 HZ frequency. In swimming, EMF with 10 Hz was the most effective frequency.

Conclusion: The findings showed that using EMES in low frequency can reduce most signs of reserpine-induced depression.

Keywords: Electromagnet fields (EMF), Mice, Depression.

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Background: Doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective anthracycline anticancer drug, although it’s clinical efficacy is restricted because of several acute and chronic side effects such as cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of quercetin on doxorubicin induced toxicity in male rats.
Materials and methods: This experimental study was done on 30 Wistar rats, which divided into five groups (6 rats in each group). One control group was treated with saline (1 mL/kg), while the second control group (quercetin vehicle) received DMSO (1 mL/kg) for 14 days. Experimental groups were orally treated with quercetin every day at a dosage of 20 mg/kg, doxorubicin (25 mg/kg, i.p.) on 12th, 13th and 14th days of the experiment, as well as, with the combination of doxorubicin and Quercetin in stated doses. The treatment period lasted for 14 days. Body weight and histological preparations of heart samples of treated animals were examined on 15th day.
Results: Body weight animals treated with doxorubicin significantly decreased compared to other groups (p<0.05). Quercetin was able to prevent weight loss caused by doxorubicin. Histopathological findings revealed that pretreatment by quercetin had protective efficacy against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity.
Conclusion: According to pathological results, we confirmed that quercetin possess hepatoprotective effect against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity which may be through its antioxidant activity.

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Background: Malachite green exhibiting anti-fungal properties has been used illegally in aquaculture. Due to its teratogenicity, it is necessary to monitor that malachite green is not used in fish farming. The aim of the present study was to measure probable levels of the remaining malachite green in rainbow trout fish in Tehran by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Materials and methods: The present study was conducted on 42 rainbow trout species with an average weight of 850-1000 g purchased from different parts of Tehran during summer 2017. Fish fillet samples were kept at -20°C until analysis. After extraction, the resulting mixture contained leucomalachite green was then oxidized to malachite green and analyzed by HPLC method.
Results: Out of 42 samples, 3 (7.1%) contaminated cases were reported in the concentration range of 78-89 ppb.
Conclusion: According to our results and other studies, malachite green is used not only in Iran but also in many countries illegally. However, by comparing the results from previous studies, it seems that its consumption in Iran’s fishing industry has been declining. Therefore, it is recommended to use alternative materials as fungicides and promote monitoring of its use in the aquaculture industry by inspection authorities.

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Background: Salvia sharifii Rech. F. & Esfand (Lamiaceae) is an Iranian endemic plant that widely used as a medicinal plant. Due to the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of other Salvia species, the present study was conducted to investigate the antinociceptive effect of S. sharifii seed's oil (SSSO) in experimental animals.
Materials and methods: Seed's oil of S. sharifii was extracted by Soxhlet method. In order to assess the antinociceptive activity, the animals were classified to five groups: control (vehicle), S. sharifii seed's oil (20 and 100 mg/kg) and standard groups (morphine 5 mg/kg and mefenamic acid 30 mg/kg). The analgesic activities were studied by formalin test in mice. The nociceptive responses were divided to two phases; phase I (0-15minutes) and phase II (15-60 minutes). Comparisons between the groups were carried out using the analysis of variance (one way ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey's test. P<0.05 was considered as significant difference.
Results: S. sharifii seed's oil showed significant antinociceptive effects in first phase (dose 20 mg/kg) and second phase (dose 20 and 100 mg/kg) of formalin test compared to control group. These effects were comparable to morphine and mefenamic acid in chronic phase of formalin test.
Conclusion: The results indicated that S. sharifii seed's oil induced a significant antinociceptive in mice that is likely related to active constituents of this seed's oil.

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Background: Over the past years, orally disintegrating films (ODFs) have been a suitable alternative to conventional oral dosage forms such as tablets and capsules, especially for patients with dysphagia. ODF is relatively a new dosage form which is prepared using hydrophilic polymers, which rapidly dissolve on tongue or buccal cavity and has other advantages of rapid onset of action and improved bioavailability. The aim of this study was formulation of ODF dosage forms containing alprazolam, which is a short-acting anxiolytic of the benzodiazepines class of psychoactive drugs.
Materials and methods: Various polymers like hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC6cps), sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (Na CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA72000), and different plasticizers like propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol (PEG400) with different percentage using solvent casting technique were used to prepare ODF formulations. Physicochemical tests including weight and thickness determination, disintegration time, assay and dissolution time were performed to find the optimum formulation.
Results: The optimized formulation contained PVA72000 and PEG400 with disintegration time less than 60 seconds and acceptable dissolution rate.
Conclusion: ODT dosage form of alprazolam with acceptable dissolution behavior and proper disintegration time was successfully formulated in this study.
Keywords: Alprazolam, Orally disintegrating films, Formulation, In vitro evaluation

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Background: Hepatoprotective effects of Fumaria parviflora have been approved in pharmaceutical and chemical toxicity models. Given the importance of the vincristine- induced hepatotoxicity during chemotherapy, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effects of F. parviflora extract on vincristine induced toxicity in adult male rats.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the rats (n=42) were divided into 7 groups: 1) Sham group, 2) vehicle group, 3) vincristine group (VCR) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), 4) F. parviflora extract (300 mg/kg, p.o.), 5) F. parviflora extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.), 6) Pretreatment group: F. parviflora extract (300mg/kg for 10 days, p.o.) + VCR (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) on 9th and 10th days of the experiment, and 7) Pretreatment group: F. parviflora extract (500mg/kg for 10 days, p.o.) +VCR (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) on 9th and 10th days of the experiment. Serum values of AST, ALT, ALP and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA using prism software.
Results: F. parviflora extract with dose of 500 mg/kg markedly decreased ALT hepatic enzyme level caused by vincristine (P<0.01). In addition, the dose of 300 mg/kg could not decrease the elevated liver enzymes, including ALP, ALT and AST and also MDA levels.
Conclusion: Hepatoprotective effects of F. parviflora extract were not considerable in pretreatment groups.
Keywords: F. parviflora, vincristine, Hepatotoxicity, Rat.

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Background: Permethrin is a drug used to cure pediculosis known as head lice. This drug is available in two forms: 1) permethrin topical cream 5%, 2) permethrin shampoo 1%. The aim of this study was to find a method and define the simultaneous cis and trans isomers for permethrin, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and butylated hydroxytoluene in topical cream 5% using the method high-performance liquid chromatography.
Materials and methods: In order to analyze the measuring method, 5 concentration of samples and concentration of permethrin 5% have been provided, which each were injected to HPLC machine. Three times and the validity index such as selectivity, linearity, accuracy and correctness is analyzed.
Results: According to the results of chromatographs, selectivity, linearity, accuracy and correctness were considered as acceptable areas.
Conclusion: Regarding the point that there is no pharmacopeia method to define the ingredients in permethrin cream simultaneously, it is so important to find an efficient analysis method to identify the peak of all ingredients in one chromatogram, considering the industrial production, time saving and increased efficiency of production units. Meanwhile the method was validated to insure that the results are correct, accurate, assurable and repeatable.

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Background: Cytotoxic waste management is one of the significant issues in healthcare system. The aim of the present study was to review studies conducted on investigation of possible levels of cytotoxic drug residues in hospital effluents.
Materials and methods: All peer-reviewed journal articles on investigation of possible levels of cytotoxic drugs residues in hospital effluents which were published before May 2019 were investigated. 51 publications which were mostly published between 2011 and 2016 were included.
Results: Anticancer medication continue to enter hospital effluents and urbane wastewaters. Hospital effluents seem to be one of the main sources of water contamination in this regard. Cytotoxic drugs and their metabolites are detected in hospital effluents in different countries across the globe. Platinum-based antineoplastic drugs, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and tamoxifen were found with higher concentrations across different studies.
Conclusion: Hospital waste management is one of the most important issues in health care system. According to the results of the present study, cytotoxic drugs residues are detected in the effluents of oncology wards of the investigated hospitals. Therefore, establishment of strict rules and regulations, provision of cytotoxic waste disposal and removal for the purpose of inactivating cytotoxic drugs in hospital effluents prior to entrance of the effluents to the sewage treatment systems is mandatory