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In this study, Ocimum sanctum plants were treated with paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Abscissic acid (ABA) to analyze the changes in the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses. Nonenzymatic antioxidants like ascorbic acid decreased in the ABA treated plants. But it increased in the PBZ treated plants. Although both PBZ and ABA treatments considerably increased the -tocopherol content, it was more in the PBZ treated plants. Enzymatic antioxidants like ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were also increased by the treatments. Catalase activity was increased by both growth regulators to a significant extent when compared with the control plants. In conclusion, our results indicated that the PBZ and ABA applications at low concentrations could be used as potential tools to increase defense mechanisms in medicinal plants.

The effect of triadimefon (TDM) a triazole compound on antioxidant potential and eugenol content was studied in Ocimum tenuiflorum L. The plant was subjected to 15 mg/l TDM by soil-drenching on 50th, 70th and 90th days after planting (DAP). Analyses were carried out on 60th, 80th and 100th DAP. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant potential estimation was carried out. The non-enzymatic antioxidant viz ascorbic acid, a-tocopherol and reduced glutathione were found to increase under triadimefon treatment. The antioxidant enzyme like superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities showed significant increase in TDM treatment. Triazole-treated plants yielded more eugenol (a major component of Ocimum-essential oil) in comparison to control. The study evidenced that TDM residues could be detected in the upper soil layer only and does not accumulate in the soil. These preliminary results suggest that TDM may be useful to increase the antioxidant content in medicinal plants and also to act as an elicitor to enhance the production of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants.