article · Microorganisms
Toxic cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater reservoirs pose major challenges for drinking water production, particularly in arid regions. An investigation of plant-based controls assessed aqueous extracts from Moroccan macrophytes, finding Ranunculus aquatilis to be the most bioactive. In batch system experiments, R. aquatilis extract cut Microcystis aeruginosa cell density by 82.18 percent and triggered substantial oxidative stress within the cyanobacterial cells. Microcystin concentrations fell significantly and remained strictly intracellular, while the ectoenzymatic activity of associated bacterial communities was not adversely affected. However, tests on other cyanobacterial strains, including Planktothrix rubescens, Raphidiopsis raciborskii, and Chrysosporum ovalisporum, showed that while growth rates slowed, toxin content did not decrease, which increased overall toxicity. These contrasting outcomes highlight the need for species-specific evaluations before deploying macrophyte extracts safely in aquatic environments.
Cyanobacterial blooms compromise drinking water sources by releasing harmful toxins. Using natural plant extracts offers an ecological method to suppress dangerous blooms without disrupting essential water-recycling bacteria. However, because different toxic species react in opposing ways, treatment strategies must be carefully tailored to avoid accidentally increasing water toxicity and endangering public health.
This research represents early-stage laboratory testing of bio-based water treatment solutions. Water reservoir managers and municipal treatment facilities could potentially use macrophyte extracts as eco-friendly bloom control agents. However, because the extracts increased toxicity in several non-target cyanobacterial species, substantial testing and formulation development are needed to verify safety and strain-specific efficacy before any real-world deployment can occur.
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Increasing toxic cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater demand environmentally friendly solutions to control their growth and toxicity, especially in arid countries, where most drinking water is produced from surface reservoirs. We tested the effects of macrophyte allelochemicals on Microcystis aeruginosa and on the fundamental role of bacteria in nutrient recycling. The effects of Ranunculus aquatilis aqueous extract, the most bioactive of four Moroccan macrophyte extracts, were tested in batch systems on M. aeruginosa growth, toxin production and oxidative stress response and on the ectoenzymatic activity associated with the bacterial community. M. aeruginosa density was reduced by 82.18%, and a significant increase in oxidative stress markers was evidenced in cyanobacterial cells. Microcystin concentration significantly decreased, and they were detected only intracellularly, an important aspect in managing toxic blooms. R. aquatilis extract had no negative effects on associated bacteria. These results confirm a promising use of macrophyte extracts, but they cannot be generalized. The use of the extract on other toxic strains, such as Planktothrix rubescens, Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Chrysosporum ovalisporum, caused a reduction in growth rate but not in cyanotoxin content, increasing toxicity. The need to assess species-specific cyanobacteria responses to verify the efficacy and safety of the extracts for human health and the environment is highlighted.
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DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081782
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