Unraveling the responses of methylparaben on bioconcentration, stomatal regulation, photosystem II dynamics and scavenging activity in Lemna trisulca.

Lemna trisulca effectively bioconcentrates methylparaben up to 50 mg L -1, maintaining physiological health and enabling efficient phytoremediation of contaminated waters.

• Why it matters: Understanding how aquatic plants respond to emerging contaminants like methylparaben is crucial for developing sustainable water treatment solutions and protecting ecosystems and human health.
• What they did: The study exposed L. trisulca to various methylparaben concentrations for 14 days, measuring tissue accumulation, bioconcentration, removal efficiency, growth, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant responses.
• The result: Findings show high removal efficiency at low doses with preserved plant health, while higher doses induce oxidative stress, impair photosynthesis, and overwhelm antioxidant defenses, highlighting the importance of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle in phytoremediation success.