Microbial Polymers as Sustainable Agents for Mitigating Health Risks of Plant-Based Endocrine Disruptors in Surface Water

Moushumi Ghosh, Krishnaswamy Balamurugan and Vivek Sharma
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Moushumi Ghosh: Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, Punjab, India
Krishnaswamy Balamurugan: Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamil Nadu, India
Vivek Sharma: Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala 147004, Punjab, India

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: This study investigated the binding abilities of extracellular polymers produced by an environmentally isolated strain of Enterococcus hirae towards phytoestrogen endocrine disruptors—biochanin A, formonetin, genistein and daidzein. The extracellular biopolymer exhibited notable binding and removal for all four phytoestrogens, with a maximum removal of daidzein (87%) followed by genistein (72%) at a 1–1.5 mg/mL concentration. Adsorption proceeded rapidly at ambient temperature. The adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm. Based on the adsorption energy, the biopolymer binding of phytoestrogens was inferred as daidzein > genistein > biochanin A > formononetin. Toxicity of the biopolymer (5–250 µg/mL) evaluated using RAW 264.7 cell lines indicated no significant ( p < 0.05) changes in viability. In biopolymer-challenged Caenorhabditis elegans previously exposed to daidzein, complete protection to developmental toxicity, such as reduced egg-laying capacity, egg viability and progeny counts of the worm, was observed. The results of this study offer valuable insights into understanding the potential role of microbial extracellular biopolymers in binding and removal of phytoestrogens with sustainable technological implications in modulating the toxic effect of high levels of endocrine disruptors in the environment.

Keywords: phytoestrogens (PE); biopolymers; Caenorhabditis elegans; adsorption; toxicity; surface water (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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