Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Scientific research activity

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is working on the VEGA project, which focuses on the effects of natural humic substances as a feed additive on the health status, immune system, production parameters and meat quality of broiler chicken. Besides that, the employees (teachers and scientists) of the department participate in the APVV project (APVV-15-0377) that aims to study biofilm formation and resistance in the genus of Malassezia yeasts.

Projects:

• VEGA 1/0408/17: The effect of humic acid on health, production parameters and meat quality of broiler chicken, period of solution: 2017 – 2019.

Moreover, the scientific research activities of the department are focused on determining the direct toxicity of plant protection products, pharmaceuticals, and environmental contaminants on animals and humans using various animal models or in vitro models. The department also studies the effects of low doses of pesticide substances, drugs, pharmaceuticals, and animal venoms during their long-term (chronic) effects on the organisms of animals, mainly focusing on assessing the risk of their immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, embryotoxicity, and monitoring their effects on reproduction and more, both in humans and animals, including wildlife, fish and, bees.

Projects:

• European Commission - Annex Inclusion Renewal (AIR) I. II. III. Ecotoxicological risk assessment of selected pesticide active ingredients (Prohexion-calcium AIR I, Prosulfuron AIR II, Glyphosate AIR II, Foramsulfuron AIR III).
• VEGA 1/0858/16: The negative impact of selected xenobiotics at the larval stage of the honeybee.
• VEGA 1/0287/11: Ecotoxicological studies and genotoxic xenobiotics on non-target organisms.
• VEGA 1/0393/2008: Monitoring the interactions of selected pesticides and heavy metals in Artemia franciscana.
• Phare SK 2005/IB/AG/02-TL, 2005 – 2006: Twinning Light, Further Strengthening of Systems for Registration and Plant Protection Products between UK and Slovakia.
• VEGA 2/7026/20:2000-2003/SAV Košice: Biotransformation of environmental contaminants by organism of animals.

Additionally, two main research topics of the department are:

1. The pharmacological influence on the central regulation of food intake.
2. The antitumor effect of substances isolated from natural sources.

Both topics are investigated in close scientific collaboration with external scientific institutions.

Projects:

• VEGA 1/0103/16: Brasinin and its derivatives as potential anti-cancer drugs, implementation 2016 – 2018.