Phytoextraction of arsenic using a weed plant Calotropis procera from contaminated water and soil: growth and biochemical response

Developing effective and environment-friendly alternatives to remove arsenic (As) from soil and water systems is of great importance and phytoremediation may be a promising alternative in this direction. Weeds have wide geographical distribution, not a part of food chain, well adapted to adverse conditions and reported to grow at various heavy metal contaminated sites. The present work delineates potential of a weed plant Calotropis procera L. for the remediation and translocation of As from water and soil and this plant has been found efficient in remediating significant quantities of As after 15 and 30 d when exposed to a range of concentrations. Moreover, As accumulation was found more in shoots than the roots when exposed to higher As levels for 30d having translocation factor >1 and make this plant suitable for phytoextraction of As. Effect of As on plant growth, photosynthetic pigments and lipid peroxidation in response to As is also presented here. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and catalase were found to increase in response to As stress. High As accumulation and tolerance potential of C. procera from artificially As contaminated water and soil coupled with good growth and its phytoextraction ability suggests the feasibility of this plant for the phytoremediation of As from contaminated water and soils.

In vitro flowering in Oldenlandia umbellata L

BACKGROUND

Oldenlandia umbellata L. (Indian madder) is an antique Ayurvedic Indian herb and a source of various anthraquinone derivatives. The red dye from its roots has been used in diverse applications since ancient times.

OBJECTIVES

To establish reliable and effective protocols for in vitro flowering of O. umbellata.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For in vitro flowering, organogenic calli were subcultured onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0.15-1.0 mg/l) and Benzyladenine(BA) (0.5-1.5 mg/l) with and without 0.4% of coconut milk (CM).

RESULTS

The highest number of in vitro flowers (22.8%) and best response (92.73%) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.7 mg/l NAA + 1.5 mg/l BA with 0.4% CM. It was found that MS medium devoid of BA promoted best root development (47.3 per calli) as well as response (100%). It was also observed that when embryogenic calli grown in depletion of required nutrition transferred to fresh media induced more flowering. In vivo and in vitro floral comparative analysis revealed that in vitro flower induction was required for short time duration (20.67 days) than in vivo flower.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on in vitro flowering and this study will help to overcome problems associated with flower development and seed production. As a result, this study may be a potent conservation tool to restore innate population size in its natural habitat.

Investigation of arsenic accumulation and biochemical response of in vitro developed Vetiveria zizanoides plants

Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides L. Nash) is found to be a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of heavy metals. An investigation of arsenic (As) accumulation, translocation and tolerance was conducted in V. zizanoides plantlets upon exposure to different concentrations of arsenic (10, 50, 100 and 200µM) for 7 and 14 d. V. zizanoides plants were found effective in remediation of As, maximum being at 200µM after 14 d of exposure. The results of TBARS and photosynthetic pigments demonstrated that plants did not experience significant toxicity at all the concentrations of As after 7 days, however an increase in their level was found after 14 d. The up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione s-transferase (GST) in a coordinated and complementary manner enhanced tolerance to plants against arsenic induced oxidative stress. Taken together, the results indicated that in vitro developed plants of V. zizanoides have the potential to remediate and tolerate varying levels of As.

Protective effect of Scutellaria species on AAPH-induced oxidative damage in human erythrocyte

BACKGROUND

Scutellaria baicalensis is a well-known plant in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, several Scutellaria species with therapeutic potential have been recognized worldwide. Scutellaria colebrookiana and Scutellaria violacea, native to the Western Ghats of India, are reported to possess free radical scavenging efficacy. At present, the protective effect of these Scutellaria spp. against 2,2' azobis (2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes has been analyzed.

METHODS

Oxidative stress in erythrocyte was induced by AAPH. The inhibition of hemolysis, membrane lipid peroxidation, and protein damage by chloroform extracts of Scutellaria spp. was assessed biochemically. Phytochemicals of the extracts were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR).

RESULTS

Approximately 95% of erythrocytes were lysed by AAPH over 3 h of incubation. Significant reduction in hemolysis was observed by the extracts, and the IC50 values were 18.3 and 23.5 μg/mL for S. colebrookiana and S. violacea, respectively. Both the extracts were found to inhibit AAPH-induced lipid peroxidation in ghost membrane with IC50 92±2.8 and 70±5.6 μg/mL. In the analysis of the membrane proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the AAPH-induced degradation of actin was found reduced by both the extracts. The FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of polyphenols, carboxylic acids, alkanes, and aromatic compounds in extracts. In quantitative analysis, the total polyphenolic content estimated was 380±0.23 and 203.7±1.4 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram extract of S. colebrookiana and S. violacea.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that S. colebrookiana and S. violacea are capable of protecting erythrocytes from oxidative damage. This cytoprotective effect of the extract is possibly by its antioxidant property.

Potential of Vetiveria zizanoides L. Nash for phytoremediation of plutonium ((239)Pu): Chelate assisted uptake and translocation

Plants have demonstrated a great potential to remove toxic elements from soils and solutions and been successfully used for phytoremediation of important radionuclides. Uptake potential of vetiver plants (V. zizanoides) for the remediation of (239)Pu in hydroponic and soil conditions was studied in the present work. High efficiency of V. zizanoides for the removal of (239)Pu was recorded with 66.2% being removed from the hydroponic solution after 30 days. However, remediation of (239)Pu from soil was limited. Remediation of (239)Pu from soil was increased with the addition of chelating agents citric acid (CA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Accumulation of (239)Pu was recorded higher in roots than shoots, however its translocation from roots to shoots increased in the presence of chelators in hydroponic as well as soil conditions. DTPA was found more effective than CA showing higher translocation index (TI). Increase in TI was observed 8 and 6 times in the solution and soil respectively when plants were exposed to (239)Pu-DTPA in comparison to only (239)Pu. The present study demonstrates that V. zizanoides plant is a potential plant for phytoremediation of (239)Pu.

Toxicity study of dibutyl phthalate of Rubia cordifolia fruits: in vivo and in silico analysis

Natural toxins from plant sources with wide ranges of biological activities reflect the upswing of drug design in the pharmaceutical industry. Rubia cordifolia L. is one of the most important red dye yielding plants. Most of the former researches have focused on the bioactive compounds from the roots of R. cordifolia, while no attention was paid towards the fruits. For the first time, here we report the presence of dibutyl phthalate in the fruits of R. cordifolia. Structural characterization was carried out using Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Acute toxicity of the crude ethanolic extracts of the R. cordifolia fruits was examined in Swiss albino mice. No mortality was observed in all treated mice with 100, 500, 1000 mg/kg body weight of crude extract of R. cordifolia fruit and it indicates that the LD50 value is higher than 1000 mg/kg body weight. This study exhibited a significant change in the body weight. Alanine transaminase (ALT), total protein, triglycerides, glucose, and also the histopathological analysis of liver for all treated mice showed difference from the control group. The dibutyl phthalate was further evaluated for the toxicity study through in silico analysis. Together, the results highlighted that the toxic potential of R. cordifolia fruits extracts and also the toxicity profile of the fruit should be essential for the future studies dealing with the long term effect in animals. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1059-1067, 2016.

Studied enhancement strategies for phytoestrogens production in shake flasks by suspension culture of Psoralea corylifolia

This study proposed secondary metabolites incremental yield due to manipulation of nutrient components into the culture medium. To validate this, the effects of nutrients such as carbon, phosphate and nitrogen on growth and production of phytoestrogens daidzein and genistein by suspension cultures of Psoralea corylifolia was investigated for the first time. The maximum production of daidzein and genistein was achieved when sucrose and maltose used as a sole source of carbon. Suspension cell cultures enriched with sucrose (3%) stimulated accumulation of isoflavones daidzein (1.76% dry wt) and genistein (0.25% dry wt) compared to glucose, fructose and maltose. Sucrose feeding strategy significantly stimulated biomass growth and isoflavones (2.79% dry wt of daidzein and 0.32% dry wt of genistein) production rate. Reduced concentrations of phosphate (0.625 mM) promoted daidzein (1.89% dry wt) and genistein (0.26% dry wt) production by suspension cell cultures, whereas high amount (5mM) in medium was inhibited isoflavones production. It was observed that medium fortified with NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) alone inhibited production of isoflavones. The maximum production obtained of daidzein (2.20% dry wt) and genistein (0.29% dry wt) when medium comprised with NH(4)(+)/NO(3)(-) at ratio 20:40 mM as a nitrogen source. Similar nutrient components ratio when altered NH(4)(+)/NO(3)(-); 40:20mM) resulted in approximately 3-fold decrease in production. HPLC analysis revealed that suspension cells cultures leached out trace amount of daidzein and genistein into the culture medium.

Enhanced production of azadirachtin by hairy root cultures of Azadirachta indica A. Juss by elicitation and media optimization

Azadirachtin is one of the most potent biopesticides so far developed from a plant sources. Influence of different culture media and elicitation on growth and production of azadirachtin by hairy root cultures of Azadirachta indica was studied. Out of the three media tested, namely Ohyama and Nitsch, Gamborg's and Murashige and Skoog's basal media, hairy roots cultured on Ohyama and Nitsch's basal medium produced maximum yield of azadirachtin (0.0166% dry weight, DW). Addition of biotic elicitor enhanced the production of azadirachtin by approximately 5-fold (0.074% DW), while signal compounds such as jasmonic acid and salicylic acid showed a approximately 6 (0.095% DW) and approximately 9-fold (0.14% DW) enhancement, respectively, in the production of azadirachtin as compared to control cultures on Ohyama and Nitsch medium. Extracts from hairy roots were found to be superior to those from the leaves for antifeedant activity against the larvae of Spodoptera litura.

Distribution of anticancer drug camptothecin in Nothapodytes foetida

The topoisomerase I-DNA inhibitor alkaloid camptothecin has been evaluated from the various parts of Nothapodytes foetida. The bark contained 0.27% dry wt of camptothecin and 0.11% dry wt 9-methoxycamptothecin followed by the root, stem, and leaves. Immature seeds contained higher concentrations of camptothecin (0.32% dry wt) and 9-methoxycamptothecin (0.16% dry wt) compared to mature seeds. Various parts of mature and immature seeds were analysed to determine the content of the major alkaloids. Zygotic embryos of immature seeds contained 0.11% dry wt of camptothecin and 0.04% dry wt of 9-methoxycamptothecin. The highest concentration of camptothecin (0.42% dry wt) and 9-methoxycamptothecin (0.18% dry wt) were accumulated in the cotyledons of immature seeds.

Comparison of techniques for the extraction of the anti-cancer drug camptothecin from Nothapodytes foetida

Extraction methods using stirring extraction, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were evaluated for the percentage extraction of camptothecin (CPT) and 9-methoxycamptothecin (9-Me-CPT) from Nothapodytes foetida. The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methanol (90%, v/v) extracted high percentage extraction of CPT and 9-Me-CPT compared to ethanol (90%, v/v). The results shows that the percentage extraction of CPT and 9-Me-CPT from N. foetida by MAE was more efficient in short time followed by Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic and stirring extraction methods. Maximum percentage extraction of CPT (2.67%, w/w) was obtained by MAE technique. MAE has need of 3 min, whereas ultrasonic extraction, Soxhlet extraction and stirring extraction techniques require 30, 120 and 30 min, respectively to leach higher percentage extraction of CPT and 9-Me-CPT. The times taken by the microwave extraction process was 40 times less than the Soxhlet extraction for percentage extraction of alkaloids. The present results show that the extraction efficiency and considerable saving of time by MAE was more competent than the other extraction techniques.

Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract

The ethanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilis, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and inactivity against Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli.

Studies on production of ajmalicine in shake flasks by multiple shoot cultures of Catharanthus roseus

The effects of different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and benzyladenine (BA) on production of ajmalicine by multiple shoot cultures of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) were studied. By supplementing Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium with a high concentration of IAA (11.42 microM) and a low concentration of BA (2.22 microM), shoot cultures accumulated high levels of ajmalicine. When culture medium was fortified with a low concentration of IAA (2.85 microM) and a high concentration of BA (8.90 microM), shoots released high levels of ajmalicine into the culture medium. Quantification of ajmalicine was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest concentration of ajmalicine production (0.166% dry wt) was obtained by shoot cultures grown in MS medium containing IAA (11.42 microM) on 20 days of cultivation. Shoot cultures accumulated ajmalicine 4.2-fold more in IAA (11.42 microM) supplemented medium compared with the high concentration of BA (8.90 microM). The content of ajmalicine concentration in the medium was quantified. Shoot cultures grown in BA (8.90 microM) supplemented medium released the maximum production of ajmalicine (0.853 g/L) into the culture medium after 15 days of cultivation. The experimental data show that the secretion of ajmalicine was 2-fold more into the culture medium supplemented with a high concentration of BA compared to that with a low concentration of BA. Data presented here show that production of ajmalicine by shoot cultures is not correlated with growth rate. Dimeric indole alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine were not present in shoot cultures. Ajmalicine production by shoot cultures was 2.4-fold higher compared to leaves of 1-year-old naturally grown plants.

Influence of fungal elicitors on production of ajmalicine by cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus

Suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) were elicited with fungal cell wall fragments of Aspergillus niger (A. niger), Fusarium moniliforme (F. moniliforme), and Trichoderma viride (T. viride). The effects of elicitor dosage, exposures time, and age of subculture on ajmalicine accumulation were studied. A higher concentration of elicitor extract responded positively to C. roseus suspension cultures. Ajmalicine accumulation increased by about 3-fold when cells were treated with A. niger, F.moniliforme, and T. viride. The maximum ajmalicine production (75 microg g(-1) dry weight (DW)) was observed in cells treated with T. viride. Cell cultures were elicited with 5% preparation of A. niger, F. moniliforme, and T. viride and exposed for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. for elicitation. Suspension cultures elicited with T. viride for 48 h showed a 3-fold increase (87 microg g(-1) DW) in ajmalicine contents, whereas A. niger and F. moniliforme synthesized a 2-fold increase in alkaloid and yielded 52 and 56 microg g(-1) DW ajmalicine, respectively. C. roseus cells of different age (5,10, 15, 20, and 25 days old) were treated with a 5% elicitor of A. niger, F. moniliforme, and T. viride and investigated elicitors activity at different age of cell cultures. Maximum yield 166 microg g(-1) DW of ajmalicine was synthesized in 20 day old suspension cultures treated with T. viride. A longer period of incubation of cell cultures with elicitors adversely affected the ajmalicine synthesis.

Growth and production of camptothecin by cell suspension cultures of Nothapodytes foetida

Callus cultures were initiated from stem parts of Nothapodytes foetida on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with different growth regulators. Suspension cultures were established and the cell biomass was higher in the presence of NAA in comparison with 2,4-D. Culture medium supplemented with NAA (10.74 microM) and BA (2.22 microM) attained 31.3 g/l DW during 20 days of cultivation in shake flasks. In the presence of NAA, maximum concentrations of camptothecin (0.035 mg/ml) and 9-methoxycamptothecin (0.026 mg/ml) were found in the medium. Alkaloid production was reduced in presence of 2,4-D in the culture medium. Cells contained trace amount of alkaloids. Alkaloids were detected and identified by means of TLC and HPLC.

Large-scale cultivation of Catharanthus roseus cells: production of ajmalicine in a 20-l airlift bioreactor

Bioreactor systems have been developed for the production of ajmalicine, an alkaloid used in the treatment of hypertension. Cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus produced higher levels of ajmalicine (323 micrograms g-1 dry weight) in a production medium enriched with tryptophan. The cell cultures were grown in medium prepared in tap water and market sugar with a view to minimise the costs of production. Large-scale cultivation of cell suspension was performed in a 20-l airlift bioreactor under controlled conditions. An ajmalicine production of 315 micrograms g-1 dry weight was achieved in the bioreactor after 14 d of cultivation.