Phenols and Flavonoids in Aleppo Pine Needles as Bioindicators of Air Pollution

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess whether certain ecophysiological responses (contents of total phenols, total proanthocyanidins, and total and simple flavonols), in the needles of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) may be valid bioindicators for the assessment of the air quality. Samples were taken at five natural sites polluted by various pollutants (NO, NO2, other NOx, SO2, and O3). The results show a decrease in total phenol concentrations with levels of nitrogen oxide pollutions (significant negative correlations between the total phenol concentrations and concentrations of NO, NO2, and other NOx). Total flavonoids (total flavonols and proanthocyanidins) are useful bioindicators for ozone pollution (significant negative correlations between total proanthocyanidins and the concentrations of ozone and significant positive correlations between total flavonols and the ozone pollution). Sulfur dioxide pollution is distinguished by low concentrations in quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol (significant negative correlations between these simple flavonols and the concentrations of SO2). This work confirms the strong interest of using the phenolic compounds of Pinus halepensis as biological indicators of air quality.

Effect of Different Concentrations of Nickel on Some secondary metabolites in Coriander (Coriandrum Sativum L.)

“…Noori et al, in 2007 found out that in Robina pseudo-acacia, the increase of flavonoids and mirisitn was observed during the stress of fluoride. Also in accordance with the studies of Robles et al, in 2003, simple flavone of miristin had a positive relation with O3 pollution and ozone induced the synthesis of miristin in the leaves of Pinus halepensis.…”

Characterization of Phenolic Compounds in Pinus laricio Needles and Their Responses to Prescribed Burnings

“…The mean content of total phenolic compounds in the needles varied from 25.6±2.6 to 47.0±4.4 mg of gallic acid/g dry weight (Figure 1), which is of the same order as the levels found in the literature [7,9,19]. Before the prescribed burning, total phenolic compound levels were higher at VN1 (unburned station) than at VN2 (burned station) (Anova, p<0.05; Figure 1).…”

“…They are of particular interest because of their involvement in the response of the plant to environmental stress, such as pollutants [2][3][4][5][6][7] or temperature variations [8][9][10][11]. Fire is a constant and periodic threat in Mediterranean forests.…”

Does competition stress decrease allelopathic potential?

“…is one of the major tree species in terms of the area it covers, and of ecological and economic values (Quézel, 2000). It is rich in secondary metabolites (Pasqua et al, 2002;Macchioni et al, 2003;Maestre et al, 2003;Robles et al, 2003) that could play an important role in secondary succession because of its allelopathic potential (Gallet and Pellissier, 1997;Fernandez et al, 2006Fernandez et al, , 2008Fernandez et al, , 2009) and its autotoxicity when regenerating (Fernandez et al, 2008).…”