Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment

Levornidazole, a nitroimidazole compound, has been linked to hepatotoxic adverse effects in clinical settings. However, the hepatotoxicity of levornidazole and its impurities has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to predict and evaluate the potential hepatotoxicity of levornidazole, and el...

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Main Authors: Ting Liu, Song Yuan, Luyong Zhang, Dousheng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/995
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author Ting Liu
Song Yuan
Luyong Zhang
Dousheng Zhang
author_facet Ting Liu
Song Yuan
Luyong Zhang
Dousheng Zhang
author_sort Ting Liu
collection DOAJ
description Levornidazole, a nitroimidazole compound, has been linked to hepatotoxic adverse effects in clinical settings. However, the hepatotoxicity of levornidazole and its impurities has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to predict and evaluate the potential hepatotoxicity of levornidazole, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. Computational models based on support vector machines (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) predicted that levornidazole, ornidazole, and impurity II exhibited hepatotoxic effects. The hepatotoxicity of levornidazole and impurity II was confirmed using a zebrafish toxicity study, with impurity II demonstrating hepatotoxicity at lower doses. Molecular structure analysis revealed that the electronegativity of the side-chain groups and the molecular polarity structure were correlated with the degree of hepatotoxicity. The toxic response was primarily associated with specific structural domains of the molecule, including the 2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imiddaster-1-yl structure and the substituent groups of 1-chloro and 2(S)-2-methyloxirane. Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that levornidazole and impurity II affect multiple metabolic processes in the liver, including glucose, lipid, protein, hormone, and drug metabolism. These findings highlight the potential hepatotoxic risks associated with levomeprazole and its impurities, emphasizing the importance of further investigation and regulatory attention to ensure patient safety.
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spelling doaj-art-dcce0f83183d49cf92bba4fa61a8b91b2025-08-20T02:53:22ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130599510.3390/molecules30050995Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity AssessmentTing Liu0Song Yuan1Luyong Zhang2Dousheng Zhang3Institute for Food Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaInstitute for Drug Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaInstitute for Food Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaInstitute for Drug Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, ChinaLevornidazole, a nitroimidazole compound, has been linked to hepatotoxic adverse effects in clinical settings. However, the hepatotoxicity of levornidazole and its impurities has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to predict and evaluate the potential hepatotoxicity of levornidazole, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. Computational models based on support vector machines (SVM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) predicted that levornidazole, ornidazole, and impurity II exhibited hepatotoxic effects. The hepatotoxicity of levornidazole and impurity II was confirmed using a zebrafish toxicity study, with impurity II demonstrating hepatotoxicity at lower doses. Molecular structure analysis revealed that the electronegativity of the side-chain groups and the molecular polarity structure were correlated with the degree of hepatotoxicity. The toxic response was primarily associated with specific structural domains of the molecule, including the 2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imiddaster-1-yl structure and the substituent groups of 1-chloro and 2(S)-2-methyloxirane. Transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that levornidazole and impurity II affect multiple metabolic processes in the liver, including glucose, lipid, protein, hormone, and drug metabolism. These findings highlight the potential hepatotoxic risks associated with levomeprazole and its impurities, emphasizing the importance of further investigation and regulatory attention to ensure patient safety.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/995levornidazoleimpuritieshepatotoxicityclassification prediction modelzebrafish
spellingShingle Ting Liu
Song Yuan
Luyong Zhang
Dousheng Zhang
Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
Molecules
levornidazole
impurities
hepatotoxicity
classification prediction model
zebrafish
title Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
title_full Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
title_fullStr Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
title_short Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of Levornidazole and Its Three Main Impurities: Based on Structure–Toxicity Classification Prediction Combined with Zebrafish Toxicity Assessment
title_sort hepatotoxicity evaluation of levornidazole and its three main impurities based on structure toxicity classification prediction combined with zebrafish toxicity assessment
topic levornidazole
impurities
hepatotoxicity
classification prediction model
zebrafish
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/995
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AT songyuan hepatotoxicityevaluationoflevornidazoleanditsthreemainimpuritiesbasedonstructuretoxicityclassificationpredictioncombinedwithzebrafishtoxicityassessment
AT luyongzhang hepatotoxicityevaluationoflevornidazoleanditsthreemainimpuritiesbasedonstructuretoxicityclassificationpredictioncombinedwithzebrafishtoxicityassessment
AT doushengzhang hepatotoxicityevaluationoflevornidazoleanditsthreemainimpuritiesbasedonstructuretoxicityclassificationpredictioncombinedwithzebrafishtoxicityassessment