An Assessment of the Coagulation, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Qualities of Extracts from Nymphaea nouchali Stem and Artocarpus altilis Peel for the Treatment of Wastewater

Abstract

Untreated sewage and industrial waste discharge contaminates water sources, causing major risks to ecosystems and human health. This study aimed to compare the coagulation, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties of Artocarpus altilis (Park.) Fosh. (Breadfruit) peel, and Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. (Blue Water Lily) stem, as a natural and eco-friendly wastewater treatment agent. Aqueous plant extracts (PEs) were prepared, and their antibacterial effects were evaluated via disk diffusion, coagulation efficiency via turbidity using spectrophotometry, and cytotoxicity by brine shrimp assay. Turbidity removal was most significantly different at 10-1 g/mL (21.63%), 10-2 g/mL (11.19%), and 10-3 g/mL (9.86%) for A. altilis, N. nouchali, and the mixed extracts, respectively (p<0.05). However, the positive control showed the most significant turbidity reduction (p<0.05). The PEs did not exhibit antibacterial properties and had no significant cytotoxic effects (p>0.05) compared to the positive control. Further research should involve investigating different extraction procedures to yield more potent compounds.