Iron (Fe) Phytoremediation by Hydrilla verticillata and Its Antibacterial Activity Against Staphylococcus aureus: An In-vitro and In-silico Study

Abstract Iron (Fe) is essential for nutrition but excessive accumulation can be harmful to humans and the environment. Additionally, unhealthy aquatic environments can lead to bacterial diseases, such as those caused by Staphylococcus aureus . This study explores the potential of Hydrilla verticillata , an aquatic plant often deemed a nuisance, for iron (Fe) phytoremediation and antibacterial applications. The research assesses the impact of various iron concentrations on the remediation efficiency of Hydrilla verticillata , measuring parameters such as iron absorption percentage, Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), and Translocation Factor (TF). It also evaluates the plant’s antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus using in-vitro and in-silico methods. The results indicate that Hydrilla verticillata effectively remediates iron, with the highest absorption rate at 98.99% at a concentration of 30 ppm. The BCF for leaves and stems were 560.999 at 10 ppm and 161.197 at 30 ppm, respectively, while the TF was 6.087 at 15 ppm. The antibacterial activity was 8.313 mm at 10 ppm, and molecular docking revealed that the compound phytol has a binding affinity of −6,0 kcal/mol. This research highlights Hydrilla verticillata ’s dual role in environmental remediation and antibacterial activity.