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VOL. 10, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Synergistic Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence in Eichhornia crassipes During Nanozerovalent Iron–Assisted Remediation of Crude Petroleum Oil–Contaminated Water
Authors
Akpomedaye Efe Cletus, Adeyemi Olalekan
Abstract
This study evaluated the synergistic effects of Eichhornia
crassipes (water hyacinth) and nanozerovalent iron (nZVI) on oxidative
stress modulation during remediation of crude petroleum oil (CPO)-contaminated
water. Experimental groups comprised CPO-only exposure (Group 2), combined
CPO–nZVI treatments (Groups 3–5; 0.1–0.4 mg/kg), and nZVI-only systems (Groups
6–8). Biochemical endpoints including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced
glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and
glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were assessed across leaf, stem, and root
tissues. CPO exposure (Group 2) significantly elevated lipid peroxidation, with
leaf MDA reaching 0.000172 ± 0.000010 mg/g, indicating severe oxidative damage.
The incorporation of nZVI resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in
MDA, with a 22.7% decrease observed in Group 5 (0.000133 ± 0.000006 mg/g).
Antioxidant responses were markedly enhanced, as leaf GSH peaked at 0.55 ± 0.05
mg/g (Group 3), while root GSH reached 0.67 ± 0.02 mg/g in Group 7,
representing the highest redox buffering capacity. Vitamin C levels were also
elevated, with maximum leaf concentration of 2.80 ± 0.15 mg/100 g recorded in
Group 3. Enzymatic antioxidant activities demonstrated strong upregulation
under combined treatments. Leaf CAT increased over fourfold from 0.00369 ± 0.00055
U mg⁻¹ protein (Group 2) to 0.01503 ± 0.00224 U mg⁻¹ protein (Group 5). Root
CAT and GST exhibited pronounced peaks in Group 4 (0.880 ± 0.21 and 0.880 ± 0.073
U mg⁻¹ protein, respectively), indicating intense detoxification at the
rhizosphere. SOD activity similarly increased, with leaf values reaching 0.01556
± 0.01267 U mg⁻¹ protein. Overall, the results demonstrate that nZVI
significantly enhances phytoremediation efficiency by reducing oxidative stress
(p < 0.05), improving antioxidant defence, and promoting physiological
resilience. This study validates hybrid nano-phytoremediation as an effective
and sustainable strategy for petroleum-contaminated water treatment.
Pages:9-16
How to cite this article:
Akpomedaye Efe Cletus, Adeyemi Olalekan "Synergistic Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence in <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> During Nanozerovalent Iron–Assisted Remediation of Crude Petroleum Oil–Contaminated Water". International Journal of Chemical Science, Vol 10, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 9-16
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