A Study on the Comparative Efficacy of Anthracene Phytoremediation by Epipremnum aureum, Portulaca grandiflora and Tagetes erecta.

Abstract

Excessive use of petroleum products has led to increased anthracene contamination in ecosystems, highlighting the need for effective monitoring and remediation strategies. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of three ornamental plant species-Epipremnum aureum, Tagetes erecta, and Portulaca grandiflora-for anthracene-contaminated soil. After 60 days of exposure to anthracene at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg kg^-1, various parameters including growth, chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and oxidative stress-related enzyme activity-were evaluated. Results revealed that in the presence of anthracene, E. aureum showed no visible stress symptoms, while P. grandiflora exhibited mild stress. In contrast, anthracene treated T. erecta experienced significant reductions in biomass (18.10-62.07%), moisture content (4.65-8.31%), shoot length (20.19-40.07%) and increased root length (14.18-62.92%) compared to the control. The total chlorophyll content in E. aureum and P. grandiflora increased at concentration of 100 mg kg^-1, whereas T. erecta exhibited hormesis in chlorophyll content. Presence of anthracene significantly increased MDA concentrations and altered the oxidative stress related parameters in all three plants. Epipremnum aureum demonstrated the highest anthracene removal efficiency (52.82 ± 2.23%), followed by P. grandiflora (31.64 ± 2.68%) and T. erecta (21.11 ± 2.65%). This study highlights the potential of E. aureum and P. grandiflora as effective candidates for restoring anthracene-contaminated soils, offering valuable insights for environmental remediation efforts.