Plants that can kill; improving E. coli removal in stormwater treatment systems using Australian plants with antibacterial activity

Shirdashtzadeh, M.; Chandrasena, Gayani; Henry, Rebekah; McCarthy, David Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.07.009

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…On the contrary, L. petersoni EO at a concentration of 2.0 µg/mL induced a relatively lower inhibition (66.67% , Table 4) on biofilm formation, while also markedly affecting metabolic activity (16.09% with respect to control) ( Table 5). These results are in accordance with what was previously reported about antimicrobial properties of a hydroalcholic extract of L. petersonii leaves (Shirdashtzadeh et al, 2017).…”

Section: Biofilm and Metabolic Activity Of Biofilm Cellssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The leaf anatomical features of L. petersonii and E. gunnii have been scarcely investigated, although leaves are the main section of the plant from which EOs are extracted. Concerning E. gunnii, most recent studies have been focused on the epicuticular waxes of the leaf surface, considering their morphology, composition, function, and biosynthesis, and also regarding the modulatory effects of different stress factors (Shepherd and Griffiths, 2006) and regeneration processes after removal (Huth et al, 2018). A brief anatomical description of L. petersonii leaf anatomy has been reported by Johnson (1980) in his comprehensive revision of the genus Leptospermum, taking into account 40 different species.…”

Section: Micromorphological Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Leptospermum petersonii and Eucalyptus gunnii

et al. 2020

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The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and to evaluate the antimicrobial and phytotoxic properties of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from leaves of Leptospermum petersonii chemotype "Variety B" and Eucalyptus gunnii, native to Australia. Geranyl acetate, γ-terpinene, geraniol, terpinolene, α-pinene, p-cimene, and linalool were the main components in L. petersonii EO, confirming also the existence of several chemotypes in such taxa; on the other hand, 1,8-cineole, trans-sabinene hydrate acetate, globulol, longicyclene, terpinolene, and camphene were present in major amounts in the E. gunnii EO. Chemical analysis of L. petersonii revealed that it belongs to the variety "B." E. gunnii EO showed good antibacterial activity, with an MIC of 0.5 and 2 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, and Pectobacterium carotovorum, respectively. The activity of E. gunnii EO was stronger than L. petersonii EO, whose maximum MIC reached 5 µg/mL. E. gunnii and L. petersonii EOs were particularly effective in inhibiting the biofilm formation by S. aureus, already at a concentration of 0.01 µg/mL. The other strains were resistant to both EOs up to a dose of 0.05 µg/mL. The maximum inhibition on biofilm formed by P. carotovorum was recorded for E. gunnii EO, reaching a value of 93.12% at 1.0 µg/mL. This is the first manuscript which studies the biofilm inhibition by EOs and evaluates their effects on biofilm metabolism. Both EOs were more effective against P. carotovorum. In addition, even though L. petersonii EO 0.1 µg/mL was unable to inhibit biofilm formation by Escherichia coli, it decreased the metabolic activity of the biofilm to 78.55% compared to control; furthermore, despite it inducing a relatively low inhibition (66.67%) on biofilm formation, it markedly affected metabolic activity, which decreased to 16.09% with respect to the control. On the contrary, L. petersonii EO 0.5 µg/mL induced a 79.88% inhibition of S. aureus

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Section: Biofilm and Metabolic Activity Of Biofilm Cellssupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Micromorphological Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Leptospermum petersonii and Eucalyptus gunnii

et al. 2020

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“…A subsequent E. coli survival test conducted on root exudate solutions from harvested plants confirmed that L. continentale exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than Carex appressa [42]. This finding was reinforced by Shirdashtzadeh et al [43], who conducted antimicrobial screening of seedlings (extracts) and seeds (exudates and extracts) from nine biofilter-suitable plants against E. coli. Melaleuca ericifolia , a close relative of M. incana , demonstrated the greatest observed inhibitory activity of tested species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Two Australian plants known for their antimicrobial properties, Melaleuca incana and Leptospermum continentale , were observed to achieve 10-fold higher E. coli reductions in biofilters than other planted systems with similar retention (infiltration) rates [22]. It was hypothesised that the introduction of antimicrobial compounds by these plants augmented pathogen die-off in these systems [22, 42] via litterfall and/or root secretions [42, 43]. A subsequent E. coli survival test conducted on root exudate solutions from harvested plants confirmed that L. continentale exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than Carex appressa [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some independent antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) assays have been conducted on the exudates and tissue extracts of certain plant species that have been employed in biofilters [44–47]. However, only a single study to date has conducted antimicrobial testing on plants selected for their specific suitability in biofilters (seed exudates, seed and seedling extracts) against a single stormwater faecal microorganism ( E. coli ) [43]. The antimicrobial effect of mature plants selected for their specific suitability in biofilters against stormwater pathogens remains yet to be investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rise of the killer plants: investigating the antimicrobial activity of Australian plants to enhance biofilter-mediated pathogen removal

2019

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Background Biofilters are soil-plant based passive stormwater treatment systems which demonstrate promising, although inconsistent, removal of faecal microorganisms. Antimicrobial-producing plants represent a safe, inexpensive yet under-researched biofilter design component that may enhance treatment reliability. The mechanisms underlying plant-mediated microbial removal in biofilters have not been fully elucidated, particularly with respect to antimicrobial production. The aim of this study was therefore to inform biofilter vegetation selection guidelines for optimal pathogen treatment by conducting antimicrobial screening of biofilter-suitable plant species. This involved: (1) selecting native plants suitable for biofilters (17 species) in a Victorian context (southeast Australia); and (2) conducting antimicrobial susceptibility testing of selected plant methanolic extracts (≥ 5 biological replicates/species; 86 total) against reference stormwater faecal bacteria ( Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Typhimurium , Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli ). Results The present study represents the first report on the inhibitory activity of polar alcoholic extracts from multiple tested species. Extracts of plants in the Myrtaceae family, reputed for their production of antimicrobial oils, demonstrated significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) than non-myrtaceous candidates ( p < 0.0001). Melaleuca fulgens (median MIC: 8 mg/mL; range: [4–16 mg/mL]) , Callistemon viminalis (16 mg/mL, [2–16 mg/mL]) and Leptospermum lanigerum (8 mg/mL, [4–16 mg/mL]) exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity against the selected bacteria ( p < 0.05 compared to each tested non-myrtaceous candidate). In contrast, the Australian biofilter gold standard Carex appressa demonstrated eight-fold lower activity than the highest performer M. fulgens (64 mg/mL, [32–64 mg/mL]). Conclusion Our results suggest that myrtaceous plants, particularly M. fulgens , may be more effective than the current vegetation gold standard in mediating antibiosis and thus improving pathogen treatment within biofilters. Further investigation of these plants in biofilter contexts is recommended to refine biofilter vegetation selection guidelines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13036-019-0175-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Influence of design and operational parameters on the pathogens reduction in constructed wetland under the climate change scenario

López

Leiva

Arismendi

et al. 2019

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

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Plants that can kill; improving E. coli removal in stormwater treatment systems using Australian plants with antibacterial activity

Cited by 17 publications

References 57 publications

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Leptospermum petersonii and Eucalyptus gunnii

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Leptospermum petersonii and Eucalyptus gunnii

Rise of the killer plants: investigating the antimicrobial activity of Australian plants to enhance biofilter-mediated pathogen removal

Influence of design and operational parameters on the pathogens reduction in constructed wetland under the climate change scenario

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