Effects of essential oils and plant extracts of several plant species on the growth of Anabaena cylindrica (Cyanophyta) and Cholorella vulgaris (Cholorophyta)

• Author(s): Monteiro, Liliana ; Geraldes, Ana Maria ; Barros, Sandra ; Fernandes, Conceição
• Date: 2011
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/9523
• Origin: Biblioteca Digital do IPB
• Subject(s): Plant extracts; Algae; Algaecide; Algaestatic effects
• Document Type: Conference object
• Language: English
• Contributor(s): Biblioteca Digital do IPB

Description

In the future, the use of plant extracts to control phytoplankton growth might be a promising algal management tool in aquatic ecosystems, dua to its low cost and environmental safeness. In the present research, effects of aqueous extracts and essential oils from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinaLis), lavender (Lavandula sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), ash (Fraxinus angustifofia), laurel (Laurus nobilis), mint (Mentha suavolens) and elder (Sambucus nigra) on the growth of axenic cultures of Anabaena cylindrica UTAD_ A212 and Chlorella vulgaris CBSC 15- 2075 were screened. Plant species were collected in Bragança region (41°47'.01"N; 6° 45'59.21 "W) during September 2009. Steam distillation of plants was performed to obtain essential oils and aqueous extracts. Essential oils were tested in 1:1, 1 :3, 1 :4, 1:10, 1 :50 concentrations by disc plate diffusion assay method, against Anabaena and Chiorella growth. Aqueous extracts were evaluated in batch cultures by testing the effect of 1 :4, 1:7 and 1:1 0 concentrations on algal growth. All the experiments were incubated under optimal conditions. Present results suggest that essential oils had an algaecide potential in all concentrations, except rosemary extract in the 1 :50 concentration. Conversely, none of the aqueous extracts had algaecide potential. However, laurel, rosemary and ash aqueous extracts presented algaestic effect in the concentration of 1 :4. Laurel and rosemary extracts had effect on both algal species, while ash only had effect on Anabaena growth. Further research to assess the effects of these plant extracts against other non-target organisms is in course.