Pill excipients are the buffers and non-active ingredients used to bind and hold a drug until it is delivered to the gastrointestinal tract. This study investigates the hypothesis that these excipients exert toxic effects on commensal gut microbiota. While essential for nutrient absorption and pathogen defense (e.g.,C. difficile), these microbial ecosystems may be disrupted by non-medicinal additives. To test this, we used Escherichia coli in zone of inhibition (ZOI) assays to evaluate the excipient profiles of common analgesics (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen Sodium). Findings indicate that, depending on the extraction method, these excipients exhibit measurable toxicity toward These data suggest that excipients may disturb the microbiome, potentially contributing to rising rates of and unexplained neurological disorders. Greater scrutiny of ingredients is required to understand their role in chronic microbiome dysbiosis. [AUTHOR VERIFY]
- Analgesic Excipients Are Toxic to Gut Bacterium and May Cause Opportunistic Infection (C.Diff), Gut-Brain Axis Disorders and Neurodevelopmental Anomalies
- Noelia TavarezNina TchavtchanidzeSara SarmandBenjamin Weeks (Advisor) - Adelphi University, BiologySunday C Ogbue (Advisor) - Adelphi University, Biology
- Scholarship and Creative Works Conference (Adelphi University, 04/28/2026)
- Adelphi University; Biology
- Poster
- 991004536599706266