Sediment quality, elemental bioaccumulation and antimicrobial properties of mangroves of Indian Sundarban

Abstract

Mangroves have wide applications in traditional medicines due to their several therapeutic properties. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), in mangrove habitats, need serious concern because of their toxicity, bioaccumulation capacity and ecotoxicological risks. In the current study, we aimed to examine sediment quality and bioaccumulation of PTEs in a mangrove-dominated habitat of Sundarban, India, and their relation with antimicrobial property of ten mangrove species of the region. Antimicrobial activity of different solvent fractions of mangrove leaves was assessed against seven microorganisms. The highest antimicrobial activity was detected in ethyl acetate and acetone-extracted fractions of Avicennia alba. Various sediment quality indices revealed progressively deteriorating nature of surface sediment having moderate contamination, however, low ecotoxicological risk. The accumulation factors (AF) for different PTEs indicate a gradual metal bioaccumulation in leaf tissue. Antimicrobial activities indicated both positive and negative correlations with manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations of mangrove species. Concentration of Mn showed a significant correlation with almost all the fractions, whereas Cu had correlation with ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol fractions (P < 0.05). The AF of Mn and Cu exhibited correlation with antimicrobial activities of acetone and methanol fractions, whereas Fe and Zn had correlation with hexane and ethyl acetate fractions. Overall, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations of Acanthus ilicifolius and Avicennia alba leaves and in the surface sediments demonstrated the strongest association (P < 0.05) with their antimicrobial activity as also depicted in correlation and cluster analysis studies. Thus, this study will help to establish a link between the PTEs in mangrove ecosystem with their bioactivity.

Spatiotemporal distribution of potentially toxic elements in the lower Gangetic delta and their implications for non-carcinogenic health risk management

“…Higher concentrations of Al and Fe are evident as dissolved toxic elements in all of the sampling stations of river Hooghly as Al and Fe are major constituents of the earth crust (Mitra et al 2018b). PTEs (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) might have sourced in river Hooghly from different industrial units comprising paper and pulp, iron and steel, thermal power plant, brick kiln, welding industries, and battery industries, which have been operating on both the banks of the river (Karar and Gupta 2006;Govil et al 2008;Ghosh et al 2016Ghosh et al , 2019bBakshi et al 2017Bakshi et al , 2019Mitra et al 2018b).…”

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“…[6,26,28] A. officinalis is considered as potential accumulator of trace metals (Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt, Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury). [29,30] Bio-accumulation of vanadium, niobium, and tantalum that are recognized as technologically critical elements of high demand for industrial development, have also been observed in the mangrove. [31]…”

“…The pneumatophore tissues are shown to accumulate maximum concentration of the metals, thereby illustrating immense potential for removing pollutants from large area of abiotic milieu (soil, water, and sediments) without affecting the ecosystem adversely. [29][30][31]80]…”

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in mangrove forest sediment of Gulf of Khambhat region, West Coast of India

“…Many research studies have been performed worldwide on diverse traits of toxic elements with their dispersal, toxicity, insistent nature, bioaccumulation ability, and possible eco-toxicological hazards to evaluate the anthropogenic influences in various marine ecosystems [20][21][22][23]. The environmental strain can be observed through the ecological risk linked to concentrations of different toxic elements within sediments and contamination degree [24][25][26].…”