Cytogenetic bioassays in model plants to evaluate the environmental toxicity of pharmaceutical residues.

Medicines, considered emerging pollutants, have been frequently detected in soils and water bodies, where they can affect key biological processes in ecosystems; among them, paracetamol, diclofenac, and carbamazepine stand out for their constant environmental presence. This review comparatively analyzes studies on the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of these drugs on plants used as biomodels, such as Allium cepa, Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, and Lactuca sativa. The studies consistently report reductions in the mitotic index and the formation of micronuclei and other cellular alterations, particularly in Allium cepa, reflecting the sensitivity of this bioindicator. However, the analysis has limitations due to the use of the mitotic index as the sole biomarker, as well as methodological differences and the limited integration of oxidative stress parameters. Overall, the results confirm the potential of plant biomodels as ecotoxicological tools, but also highlight the need to standardize protocols, incorporate multiple biomarkers, and evaluate prolonged exposures and drug mixtures at relevant environmental concentrations.