Phytotoxicity and Accumulation of Antibiotics in Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) Plants under Hydroponic Culture Conditions

The aim of this research was to investigate the accumulation of antibiotics in two kinds of plants. The hydroponic culture solution included a mixture of antibiotics, including three commonly used antibiotics in South Korea: norfloxacin (NOR), sulfamethazine (SMZ), and tetracyclines (TC). None of these antibiotics were detected in the shoots of water lettuce plants, only in the roots. However, in parrot feather plants, antibiotics were detected in both the shoots and the roots, with higher amounts detected in the shoots than in the roots. SMZ and TC were most likely to be detected in the roots and shoots of water lettuce and parrot feather plants, and about one-third of the NOR administered was later detected in the plants. The BCF (bioconcentration factor) of antibiotics ranged from 0.24 to 0.78, while that of NOR was much lower, ranging from 0.24 to 0.38. The SMZ (0.59–0.64) and TET (0.72–0.78) exhibited higher uptake accumulation in the water lettuce tissues compared with the parrot feather plants.

New Sustainable Synthetic Routes to Cyclic Oxyterpenes Using the Ecocatalyst Toolbox

Cyclic oxyterpenes are natural products that are mostly used as fragrances, flavours and drugs by the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. However, only a few cyclic oxyterpenes are accessible via chemical syntheses, which are far from being ecofriendly. We report here the synthesis of six cyclic oxyterpenes derived from ß-pinene while respecting the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. Only natural or biosourced catalysts were used in mild conditions that were optimised for each synthesis. A new generation of ecocatalysts, derived from Mn-rich water lettuce, was prepared via green processes, characterised by MP-AES, XRPD and TEM analyses, and tested in catalysis. The epoxidation of ß-pinene led to the platform molecule, ß-pinene oxide, with a good yield, illustrating the efficacy of the new generation of ecocatalysts. The opening ß-pinene oxide was investigated in green conditions and led to new and regioselective syntheses of myrtenol, 7-hydroxy-α-terpineol and perillyl alcohol. Successive oxidations of perillyl alcohol could be performed using no hazardous oxidant and were controlled using the new generation of ecocatalysts generating perillaldehyde and cuminaldehyde.

Efficacy of Aqueous Extract of Pistia Stratiotes (Water Lettuce) Against some Tropical Fish Bacterial

Background: The study was undertaken to determine the phytochemical screening and the antibacterial activities of Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) against some clinically isolated fish pathogens. Methods: The healthy and disease free plants samples were collected from Jebba Upper Basin of River Niger and tested for their antibacterial activities and phytochemical properties. Pistia stratiotes aqueous extract was extracted using sterile distilled water. The Agar diffused methods were used to determine the antimicrobial actions of the plant against fish pathogens of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Vibrio anguillarum. Results: The antibacterial investigation of aqueous extracts revealed the significant activity against these bacterial. Moreover, phytochemical examination of the crude extract showed the occurrence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and catechins, which completely inhibited the growth of V. anguillarum and E. coli. However, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Aeromonas hydrophila exhibited moderate varying levels of resistance. Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that bioactive resistance from Pistia stratiotes can help disrupt the activities of various fish bacterial in aquaculture practices

Evaluation of water lettuce, giant salvinia and water hyacinth systems in phytoremediation of domestic wastewater

The objective of this research was to ascertain the best conditions for efficient applications of water lettuce, giant salvinia and water hyacinth in improving the quality of low strength domestic wastewater. Water quality assessment of the wastewater samples before (influent) and after treatment (effluent) with effect to retention times (6, 12 and 24 h) was analysed. The outcome of the study at 6 h retention showed that water lettuce (6.8–7.0 pH, 50.5% colour, 46.7% biological oxygen demand (BOD) and 37.8% chemical oxygen demand (COD)), giant salvinia (6.9–7.1 pH, 40.5% colour, 60% BOD and 43.2% COD) and water hyacinth (6.7–6.9 pH, 45.5% colour, 53% BOD and 35.1% COD) reduction values were achieved. At 12 h retention, water lettuce (6.6–7.0 pH, 57.2% colour, 77.1% BOD and 74.6% COD), giant salvinia (6.4–6.8 pH, 81.1% colour, 66.7% BOD and 72.2% COD) and water hyacinth (6.4–6.7 pH, 61.9% colour, 70% BOD and 61.1% COD) reduction values were achieved. Similarly, for 24 h retention, water lettuce (6.6–7.0 pH, 76.7% colour, 53.2% BOD and 70.3% COD), giant salvinia (6.6–7.0 pH, 91.4% colour, 74.7% BOD and 81.0% COD) and water hyacinth (6.4–6.9 pH, 74% colour, 58% BOD and 67.2% COD) reduction values were achieved. These findings indicated that the retention times of 12 and 24 h provided suitable conditions to break down the organic contaminants present in the shallow ponds.

Antioxidant activity of the fractions from water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) extract

Free radicals including reactive oxygen species are continuously increasing in the human body. This condition causes the unbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the human body. An antioxidant is a compound with the ability to reduce the harmfulness of the free radical. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of fractions and analyzed the functional groups of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) methanol extract. The separation process was performed by using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography. The separated fractions were measured for their antioxidant activity by using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay. The functional groups of each fraction were determined by using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The separation of water lettuce extract by using column chromatography produced seven fractions with different colors and confirmed by using TLC. The antioxidant activity showed the highest activity in the third fraction with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 131.66 ppm. The fifth fraction with the IC50 was about 184.62 ppm. Whereas, the first, second, fourth, sixth, and seventh fractions were relatively weak with the IC50 more than 200 ppm. The FT-IR spectrum also showed that the intensity hydroxyl group in the third fraction higher than the seventh fraction.

Artificial propagation and larval breeding tests of the african sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus conducted in captive conditions

The African catfish Clarias gariepinus is the second most cultured species in many African countries, including Senegal. Despite its economic importance in local aquaculture, artificial propagation of the species that would allow obtaining quality seed throughout the year has not yet been mastered adequately. This study aimed at producing C. gariepinus quality and mass supply seed to enhance local production. Three different types of incubation (Macdonald's bottle, water lettuce and wire mesh frame) were tested to identify the most efficient and accessible method for the producers at low cost and with a high hatching rate. The hatching rates obtained for the three different incubation methods were 26.9%, 10.0% and 6.3% for the Macdonald bottle (MB), wire frame (WF) and water lettuce (WL), respectively, while the corresponding survival rates were 91.6%, 70.4% and 77.8%.77.8%. The high hatching rate obtained with the MB could be due to the influence of permanent water circulation, which is absent in the other two hatching systems. The survival rates decreased 15 days after hatching and were 3.24%, 2.04% and 7.16%, respectively. The survival rates obtained three days after hatching were satisfactory, but the significant decrease at 15 days after hatching especially during the post- weaning phase seems to be due to the food quality, and unrelated to the hatching system. The daily individual growth, weight gain and body size of the larvae was significantly higher for larvae fed with natural food compared those that received artificial food. These results indicate that larvae preferred and fed the natural food which was permanently available in the rearing tanks. The artificial food deposited on the bottom of the tank changes appearance over time and may not be appreciated and efficiently consumed by the larvae, which may negatively impact their growth performance.

The Ability of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crasipes Mart.) and Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes Linn.) for Reducing Pollutants in Batik Wastewater

Batik produced by craftsmen is categorized as a small and medium industry. The problem of Batik production is less attention to the environment because the craftsmen lived in the middle of a residential area that has inexperience. One of less attention to the environment is no treatment of wastewater that reaches up to 95 % (61.9 L each cloth). Thus it polluted the river. This research aimed to treat the wastewater of Batik production by using phytoremediation. In this study, phytoremediation was carried out in three tanks in series using Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes which are abundant in Indonesia. The treated wastewater was evaluated for its ammonia and chromium (Cr). The results showed that ammonia reduced 78.36 % by E. crassipes, and 73.13 % P. stratiotes. While E. crassipes reduced Cr by 63.76 % and P. stratiotes by 83.39 %. This research concluded that E. crassipes and P. stratiotes are potential plants to reduce the pollutants in Batik wastewater.