Anti-cyanobacterial activity of Moringa oleifera seeds

Anti-cyanobacterial activity of Moringa oleifera seeds: "

Abstract Filtrates from crushed Moringa oleifera seeds were tested for their effects on growth and Photosystem II efficiency of the common bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. M. aeruginosa populations exhibited good growth in controls and treatments with 4- and 8-mg crushed Moringa seeds per liter, having similar growth rates of 0.50 (±0.01) per day. In exposures of 20- to 160-mg crushed Moringa seeds L⁻¹, growth rates were negative and on average −0.23 (±0.05) .day⁻¹. Presumably, in the higher doses of 20- to 160-mg crushed seeds per liter, the cyanobacteria died, which was supported by
a rapid drop in the Photosystem II efficiency (Φ_PSII), while the Φ_PSII was high and unaffected in 0, 4, and 8 mg L⁻¹. High-density populations of M. aeruginosa (chlorophyll-a concentrations of ∼270 µg L⁻¹) were reduced to very low levels within 2 weeks of exposure to ≥80-mg crushed seeds per liter. At the highest dosage of 160 mg L⁻¹, the Φ_PSII dropped to zero rapidly and remained nil during the course of the experiment (14 days). Hence, under laboratory conditions,
a complete wipeout of the bloom could be achieved. This is the first study that yielded evidence for cyanobactericidal activity
of filtrate from crushed Moringa seeds, suggesting that Moringa seed extracts might have a potential as an effect-oriented measure lessening cyanobacterial nuisance.

• Content Type Journal Article
• DOI 10.1007/s10811-009-9485-y
• Authors
  
  
  • Miquel Lürling, Wageningen University Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences P.O. Box 47 6700 AA Wageningen the Netherlands
  • Wendy Beekman, Wageningen University Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Department of Environmental Sciences P.O. Box 47 6700 AA Wageningen the Netherlands
  
  

• Journal Journal of Applied Phycology
• Online ISSN 1573-5176
• Print ISSN 0921-8971

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