Influence of Heavy Metals (Ni, Cu, and Zn) on Nitro-Oxidative Stress Responses, Proteome Regulation and Allergen Production in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Plants

Abstract

One of the most significant biosphere contamination problems worldwide is derived from heavy metals. Heavy metals can be highly reactive and toxic according to their oxidation levels. Their toxic effects are associated with the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular damage induced in plants. The present study focuses on the effects of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) applied to the soil on the antioxidant response and allergen production in the aromatic plant basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) following a combined physiological, biochemical and analytical approach. The concentrations used for the three heavy metals were based on the 2002 Regulation of the Polish Ministry of the Environment on Soil Quality Standards [(i) agricultural land (group B): Ni 100 ppm, Ni 210 ppm, Cu 200 ppm, Cu 500 ppm, Zn 720 ppm and (ii) industrial land (group C): Ni 500 ppm, Cu 1000 ppm, Zn 1500 ppm, Zn 3000 ppm]. The highest physiological and cellular damage in basil plants was caused by Cu and Zn. Increasing concentrations of Cu resulted in a further increase in cellular damage and nitro-oxidative stress, correlating with an induction in activity of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species metabolism enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, NR). Treatment with Cu led to increased concentration of the allergenic protein profilin, while increasing concentrations of Cu and Zn led to a decrease in the concentration of total proteins (likely due to proteolysis) and antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, severe Cu stress resulted in the accumulation of specific proteins related to transpiration and photosynthetic processes. On the basis of these findings, Ni stress in basil plants appears to be less damaging and with lower allergenic potential compared with Cu and Zn stress, while Cu-stressed basil plants experience most detrimental effects and display highest allergen production.

Structural, physiological and genetic diversification of Silene vulgaris ecotypes from heavy metal-contaminated areas and their synchronous in vitro cultivation

“…All this causes the production of extremely reactive hydroxyl radicals to be inhibited, so cell-building molecules are protected against oxidation (Pilon et al 2011). In the present study, increased SOD activity was found in two metallicolous ecotypes, similar to the effect of Ni 2+ or Cu 2+ on basil plants under controlled metal treatment (Georgiadou et al 2018). The SOD activity seems to be strongly correlated with the dose of metal in the growth medium and/or with the plant species as observed within Alyssum genus in the hyperaccumulating plants of A. argenteum and A. maritimum treated with Ni or Cd ions (Schickler and Caspi 1999).…”

Effects of Some of Heavy Metals on Total Protein Amount and Peroxidase Activity in Solanum Lycopersicum Mill

“…Similar to our results it was reported that increasing concentrations of Cu treatments resulted in a reduction of total protein concentration and Cu stressed had the most detrimental effects while Ni stress showed less damaging in Ocimum basilicum L. following a combined, biochemical, analytical, and physiological approach (Georgiadou et al, 2018). In another research, it was observed that APX, POD, and SOD were shown remarkable induction with the treatment of Cd, Cu (10, 20 and 50 ppm) in the leaves of tomato when compared to control group (Kısa, 2017).…”

Nickel Toxicity Induced Changes in Nutrient Dynamics and Antioxidant Profiling in Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids

“…Nickel, at an extremely low concentration (0.05 mM), enhances the activity of POD, SOD, and guaiacol peroxidase (GOPX) [20]. However, at elevated Ni concentrations (500 mg kg −1 ), antioxidative enzyme activity decreases and leads to oxidative damage in plants [21].…”