Drugs uptake and degradation by aquatic plants as a bioremediation technique

To evaluate plant capability of lowering antimicrobial drug concentration, laboratory models have been set up, testing a sulfonamide (Sulfadimethoxine) and a quinolone (Flumequine) widely used in intensive farming. The aim of this work was to determine if different macrophytes, Azolla, Lythrum and Lemna. can have phytoremediation activity: effect on plant post-germinative development, drug uptake/degradation were studied, The three plant models demonstrated a high survival rate even at very high drug concentrations although toxic effects are present. Furthermore, Azolla and Lythrum showed drug uptake. This can lead us to hypothesise for these plants a role as a bioremediation technique.