Evaluation of Potential Biodegradation of Used Engine Oil by Extracts of some Trees belong to Family Meliaceae.

S. S, Sherif; S. Abd Elhamied, Nebal; H. H., Afifi

doi:10.21608/hrj.2025.454751

Evaluation of Potential Biodegradation of Used Engine Oil by Extracts of some Trees belong to Family Meliaceae.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Dept.; Tissue Culture and Germplasm Conservation Lab. Hort. Res. Inst. Agric. Res. Center, Egypt

² Forestry Dept., Horticulture Res. Inst., Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt.

³ Germplasm Conservation Research Institute, and Phytosaintary lab; National Gene Bank, ARC, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/hrj.2025.454751

Abstract

Petroleum hydrocarbons pose a major environmental concern due to their widespread distribution and harmful effects on human health. Biodegradation is considered an effective remediation strategy for breaking down hydrocarbons from spilled petroleum. In this study, the potential of indigenous mahogany leaf extracts to degrade petroleum in vitro was investigated. Crude engine oil was isolated and analyzed by GC-MS without any prior treatment. The oil was then incubated for 7 days with leaf extracts from three mahogany species: Swietenia macrophylla, Swietenia mahagoni, and Khaya senegalensis. At the end of the incubation period, various assays were performed, including oil displacement, drop collapse, rhamnose content analysis, and tests for foaming and emulsifying properties. The present study also aimed to screen the genetic diversity of three Swietenia mahagoni genotypes using simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The genotypes were obtained from the Timber Tree Department Orchard, Horticultural Research Institute, Giza Governorate. Molecular characterization revealed that Swietenia mahagoni was the most effective extract for crude oil degradation. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis was conducted to further assess genetic variation. Three ISSR primers produced distinct banding patterns. Out of 62 amplified ISSR fragments, 27 were polymorphic, and 28 were identified as cultivar-specific markers. Overall, Swietenia mahagoni extracts-both from leaves and roots-demonstrated the highest efficiency in degrading crude oil.

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