Green Solutions to a Growing Problem: Harnessing Plants for Antibiotic Removal from the Environment

Abstract

Environmental dissemination of antibiotics is a pressing global challenge, driving ecological imbalances and the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Conventional treatment technologies often fail to fully eliminate these micropollutants or are cost-prohibitive for widespread use. In this context, phytoremediation—using plants and their associated microbiota to remove, transform, or immobilize contaminants—has emerged as an effective and promising, low-impact, and nature-based approach for mitigating antibiotic pollution in aquatic and terrestrial environments. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the physiological, biochemical, and ecological mechanisms by which plants interact with antibiotics, including phytoextraction, phytodegradation, rhizodegradation, and phytostabilization. This review prioritizes phytoremediation goals, with attention to high-performing aquatic (e.g., Lemna minor, Eichhornia crassipes, Phragmites australis) and terrestrial plants (e.g., Brassica juncea, Zea mays) and their ability to remediate major classes of antibiotics. This study highlights the role of rhizosphere microbes and engineered systems in phytoremediation, while noting challenges such as variable efficiency, phytotoxicity risks, limited knowledge of by-products, and environmental concerns with antibiotic degradation. Future perspectives include the integration of genetic engineering, microbiome optimization, and smart monitoring technologies to enhance system performance and scalability. Plant-based solutions thus represent a vital component of next-generation remediation strategies aimed at reducing antibiotic burdens in the environment and curbing the rise in antimicrobial resistance.