Barbara Kołodziej

Phytoextraction of heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge by Rosa multiflora and Sida hermaphrodita

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the multiflora rose var. “Jatar” (Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murray) and the Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) to phytoextract heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge. The 6-year field experiment involved four levels of fertilization with sewage sludge at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40, and 60 Mg DM (Dry Mass) sludge ha−1. The increasing doses of sewage sludge were found to significantly increase the yield of multiflora rose and Virginia fanpetals biomass. They also significantly increased the content of heavy metals in these plants. The highest uptake of heavy metals by the multiflora rose and Virginia fanpetals crops was recorded at the fertilization dose of 60 Mg DM ⋅ ha−1. Our investigations show that the Virginia fanpetals was more efficient in the phytoextraction of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd from the sewage sludge than the multiflora rose, due to the greater yields and higher heavy metal uptake by the former plant. In turn, the multiflora rose phytoextracted greater amounts of Pb from the sewage sludge. The analyses indicate that the Virginia fanpetals can be used for phytoremediation (phytoextraction) of heavy metals contained in sewage sludge.

Influence of extraction methods on the recovery of astragaloside IV from the roots of Astragalus mongholicus in Soxhlet- and Twisselmann-type apparatus

Abstract Astragalus mongholicus, commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), contains significant amounts of triterpene saponins – astragalosides, which possess a wide variety of pharmacological actions, including the treatment of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The present study was performed to develop a fast and effective extraction method of saponins from crude plant material using Twisselmann-type apparatus. Moreover, a detailed comparison between Soxhlet and Twisselmann apparatus was performed to explain the advantages and disadvantages of their applications. The content of astragaloside IV – the major saponin of A. mongholicus extracts and chosen as an extraction efficiency marker ‒ was determined by means of RP-HPLCELSD chromatography in an herein optimized method. Twisselmann extraction shortened its duration from 4 to 2 hours in comparison with the Soxhlet method ‒ a generally accepted method preparation for this extract. The effectiveness of both apparatus was alike (3.24 ± 0.44 mg and 3.48 ± 0.26 mg of astragaloside IV/ 4g of powdered root for 2 hours in Twisselmann and 4 hours in Soxhlet apparatus). Compared with a pharmacopoeial method, the application of Twisselmann apparatus enabled a decrease in analysis time of 50%, which is of high significance, especially for large, scaled-up industrial scale. Graphical Abstract

Zbiorowiska mikroorganizmów w glebie spod leśnej uprawy żeń-szenia amerykańskiego

The investigations were carried out in 2003-2004 on American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolium L.) plantation localised in the mixed forest in Trzciniec (Lubelski province). The object of the study was the soil from ginseng culture protected by the biological and chemical method. In the experiment there was also control plot - without any protection during plants vegetation. There were also analysed the infected roots of ginseng plants. Microbiological analyses showed that soil from control plots was characterised by the smallest average total number of bacteria. In 1 g of dry weight of soil after Polyversum application there was stated the highest number of bacterial colonies from Bacillus and Pseudomonas genus. The highest number of fungal colonies was obtained in 1 g of dry weight of soil on the control plots. The highest number of saprophytic fungi (including those with antagonistic character) was obtained from the soil where the biological plant protection was applied. Generally, independently of a plant protection method, American ginseng plants were affected by Alternaria alternata , Cylindrocarpon spp., Fusarium spp., Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani .