Biodegradable chelant-metal complexes enhance cadmium phytoextraction efficiency of Solanum americanum.

Toxic contaminants (metals and metal-containing compounds) are accumulating in the environment at an astonishing rate and jeopardize human health. Remarkable industrial revolution and the spectacular economic growth are the prime causes for the release of such toxic contaminants in the environment. Cadmium (Cd) is ranked the 7th most toxic compound by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (USA), owing to its high carcinogenicity and non-biodegradability even at miniscule concentration. The present study assessed the efficiency of four biodegradable chelants [nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediamine disuccinate (EDDS), ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), and citric acid (CA)] and their dose (5 mM and 10 mM) in enhancing metal accumulation in Solanum americanum Mill. (grown under 24 mg Cd kg-1 soil) through morpho-physiological and metal extraction parameters. Significant variations were observed for most of the studied parameters in response to chelants and their doses. However, ratio of root and shoot length, and plant height stress tolerance index differed non-significantly. The potential of chelants to enhance Cd removal efficiency was in the order - EGTA (7.44%) > EDDS (6.05%) > NTA (4.12%) > CA (2.75%). EGTA and EDDS exhibited dose-dependent behavior for Cd extraction with 10 mM dose being more efficient than 5 mM dose. Structural equation model (SEM) depicted strong positive interaction of metal extraction parameters with chelants (Z-value = 11.61, p = 0.001). This study provides insights into the importance of selecting appropriate dose of biodegradable chelants for Cd extraction, as high chelant concentration might also result in phytotoxicity. In the future, phytoextraction potential of these chelants needs to be examined through field studies under natural environmental conditions.

In vitro screening of essential oil from young and mature leaves of Artemisia scoparia compared to its major constituents for free radical scavenging activity.

The present study investigated the chemical characterization, and antioxidant activity of essential oil hydrodistilled from young and mature leaves of Artemisia scoparia. GC-MS analyses revealed a monoterpenoid nature (64-67%) with 44 and 31 constituents in young and mature leaves oil, respectively. The oil from young leaf contained greater amount of oxygenated compounds. Beta-myrcene (24.13%) and p-cymene (27.06%) were the major constituents in young and mature leaves oil, respectively. A. scoparia leaf oils (25-200 microg/ml) exhibited a strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity against hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide. However, the activities of major constituent monoterpenes, beta-myrcene and p-cymene, were less. In general, the DPPH radical scavenging and antioxidant activity was in the order: mature leaf oil > young leaf oil > beta-myrcene > p-cymene.

Characterization and antioxidant activity of essential oils from fresh and decaying leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis.

The composition of essential oils hydrodistilled from fresh and decaying leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis was analyzed by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and a total of 68 constituents were identified. The essential oils were assayed for antioxidant activity in terms of scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and hydroxyl (OH(*)) radical, and superoxide anion (O2(-*)).The major constituents of the fresh leaf oil were alpha-pinene (28.53%) and 1,8-cineole (19.48%), whereas in the decaying leaf oil, beta-citronellal (14.15%), (-)-isopulegol (13.35%), and (+)-beta-citronellol (10.73%) were the major components. Both essential oils exhibited a strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH radical with IC50 values of 110 and 139.8 microg/mL for fresh and decaying leaf oil, respectively (IC50 of BHT = 164.2 microg/mL). Further, the essential oils (at 400 microg/mL) also exhibited OH(*) (56-62%) and O2(-*) (65-69%) scavenging activity parallel to the commercial antioxidant BHT/ascorbic acid. However, unlike the essential oils, the major monoterpene constituents exhibited significantly less scavenging activity (<35% DPPH or OH(*); at 400 microg/mL). The study concluded that fresh and decaying leaves of E. tereticornis are a source of monoterpenoid rich oil exhibiting antioxidant activity.

Phytotoxicity of major constituents of the volatile oil from leaves of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit.

The phytotoxicity of the three major monoterpene constituents of the essential oil from leaves of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit. (redstem wormwood) was investigated. GC/GC-MS analysis revealed that the essential oil (yield 0.84%) is a complex mixture containing 19 monoterpenes, 7 sesquiterpenes and 15 other compounds--aliphatic alcohols, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and esters. The three major monoterpenes were beta-myrcene (30.2%), p-cymene (12.8%) and dl-limonene (12.4%). The essential oil and the three monoterpenes exhibited phytotoxicity and reduced germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll content and percent respiration of Avena sativa and Triticum aestivum in a dose-response manner. The inhibitory effect of monoterpenes was comparatively smaller than of the crude essential oil and beta-myrcene was most toxic followed by p-cymene, whereas limonene was least toxic. The study suggests that A. scoparia oil and beta-myrcene can be explored for phytotoxicity against weeds.

Assessment of phytotoxicity of parthenin.

Phytotoxicity of parthenin, a sesquiterpene lactone, was evaluated against four weedy species (Amaranthus viridis, Cassia occidentalis, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Phalaris minor) through a series of experiments conducted under laboratory or greenhouse conditions to assess its herbicidal potential. Under laboratory conditions, parthenin (0.5-2 mM) severely reduced seedling growth (root and shoot) and dry weight of test weeds. However, the effect was greater on root growth. Parthenin (1 mM) suppressed the mitotic activity in the onion root tip cells that could possibly be responsible for the reduction in seedling growth. Both pre- and post-emergent application of parthenin caused a significant loss of chlorophyll pigments and affected photosynthesis. Parthenin ( > or =1 mM) caused an excessive electrolyte leakage in the plant tissues which was light-dependent. The root inhibition was associated with swelling and blackening of the root tip, shriveling and damage to the epidermal tissue and non-formation of root hairs. The study concludes that parthenin possesses weed-suppressing potential (both pre- and post-).

Phytotoxicity of the volatile monoterpene citronellal against some weeds.

A study was undertaken to assess the phytotoxicity of citronellal, an oxygenated monoterpenoid with an aldehyde group, towards some weedy species [Ageratum conyzoides L., Chenopodium album L., Parthenium hysterophorus L., Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.), Garcke, Cassia occidentalis L. and Phalaris minor Retz.]. A significant effect on weed emergence and early seedling growth was observed in a dose-response based laboratory bioassay in a sand culture. Emergence of all test weeds was completely inhibited at 100 micro/g sand content of citronellal. Seeds of A. conyzoides and P. hysterophorus failed to emerge even at 50 microg/g content. Root length was inhibited more compared to shoot length. The failure of root growth was attributed to the effect of citronellal on the mitotic activity of growing root tips cells as ascertained by the onion root tip bioassay. At 2.5 mM treatment of citronellal, mitosis was completely suppressed and at higher concentrations cells showed various degrees of distortion and were even enucleated. The post-emergent application of citronellal also caused visible injury in the form of chlorosis and necrosis, leading to wilting and even death of test weeds. Among the test weeds, the effect was severe on C. album and P. hysterophorus. There was loss of chlorophyll pigment and reduction in cellular respiration upon citronellal treatment indicating the impairment of photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism. Scanning electron microscopic studies in C. occidentalis leaves upon treatment of citronellal revealed disruption of cuticular wax, clogging of stomata and shrinkage of epidermal cells at many places. There was a rapid electrolyte leakage in the leaf tissue upon exposure to citronellal during the initial few hours. In P. minor electrolyte leakage in response to 2 mM citronellal was closer to the maximum leakage that was obtained upon boiling the tissue. The rapid ion leakage is indicative of the severe effect of citronellal on the membrane structure and loss of membrane integrity. In all, the study concludes that citronellal causes a severe phytotoxicity on the weeds.