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Removal of Phenanthrene by some microalga species and study of antioxidative compounds in Nostoc calcicola ISC 89

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can cause adverse effects on the environment and human health. Microalgae species have the ability to remove and degrade PAHs. The present research provides novel insights to discover microalgae responses against phenanthrene (as a PAH) through an antioxidant defense response underlying reactive oxygen species detoxification and scavenging.

Materials and methods

This research was carried out to investigate the phenanthrene (PHE) removal by five microalgal species, namely, Scenedesmus sp. ISC 94, Chlorella sp. ISC 23, Nostoc calcicola ISC 89, Anabaena sp. ISC 88, and Leptolyngbya fragilis ISC 108. Screening of microalgal species for the PHE removal was done based on GC analysis and growth parameters under control conditions (without PHE) and at 0.1% PHE.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the tolerance of N. calcicola ISC 89 to PHE was more significant than other species under the studied condition. Antioxidant enzyme activity, total lipid, proline, and phenolic acid content increased significantly in PHE-treated N. calcicola ISC 89. It was also observed that there was a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 contents with an increase of specific growth rate and dry weight in the tolerant species.

Conclusions

This research can provide new insights into the mechanism of N. calcicola ISC 89 tolerance against PHE-induced oxidative damage. Overall, this study suggests that N. calcicola ISC 89 can be used to remediate PAH-contaminated regions.

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Abbreviations

PAHs:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PHE:

Phenanthrene

BBM:

Bold’s basal medium

FW:

Fresh weight

DW:

Dry weight

OD:

Optical density

SGR:

Specific growth rate

ACECR:

Academic Center of Education Culture and Research

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

PBP:

Phycobiliprotein

APC:

Allophycocyanin

PE:

Phycoerythrin

PC:

Phycocyanin

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

TBA:

Thiobarbituric acid

NBT:

Nitrobluetetrazolium

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

CarCarotenoid:

ChlChlorophyll

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

POX:

Peroxidase

TAL:

Tyrosine ammonia-lyase

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

TP:

Total phenolic

TPA:

Total phenolic acid

TF:

Total flavonoid

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Acknowledgements

The funding and facilities for this research were provided equally by the Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR) of Iran and University of Tehran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mahbobe Ghanbarzadeh, Vahid Niknam & Hasan Ebrahimzadeh

  2. Department of Petroleum Microbiology, Research Institute of Applied Science, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Neda Soltani

  3. Faculty of Engineering Modern Technologies, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies (AUSMT), Amol, Iran

    Mohammad Hassan Shahavi

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  1. Mahbobe Ghanbarzadeh
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  2. Vahid Niknam
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Correspondence to Vahid Niknam.

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Ghanbarzadeh, M., Niknam, V., Soltani, N. et al. Removal of Phenanthrene by some microalga species and study of antioxidative compounds in Nostoc calcicola ISC 89. J Soils Sediments 22, 109–119 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-03065-z

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