Preliminary investigation of Spartina alterniflora for phytoextraction of selected heavy metals in soils from Southwest Louisiana

Spartina alterniflora plants were collected at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge near Lake Charles, Louisiana for phytoremediation (phytoextraction) studies. In order to determine whether the plant would thrive in different soils and undergo phytoremediation, three soils were used and analyzed: experimental controlled soil (minimum heavy metal contamination), spiked soil (spiked with 100 ppm of selected heavy metals of Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) collected from a local store and contaminated soil collected from the known contaminated (with metals) Bayou d'Inde in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The plant grew evenly in each of the three soils. Based on the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometric determination of the plant in each soil, it was shown that S. alterniflora exhibited potential for phytoremediation of metals in soils via phytoextraction into the roots.     

Determination of potentially toxic heavy metals in traditionally used medicinal plants for HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections in Ngamiland District in Northern Botswana

The determination of four potentially toxic heavy metals, arsenic, chromium, lead and nickel in twelve plant species used for the treatment of perceived HIV and AIDS-associated opportunistic infections by traditional healers in Ngamiland District in Northern Botswana, a metal mining area, was carried out using atomic absorption spectrometry. The medicinal plants; Dichrostachys cinerea, Maerua angolensis, Mimusops zeyheri, Albizia anthelmintica, Plumbago zeylanica, Combretum imberbe, Indigofera flavicans, Clerodendrum ternatum, Solanum panduriforme, Capparis tomentosa, Terminalia sericea and Maytenus senegalensis contained heavy metals in varying quantities: arsenic 0.19–0.54 μg g⁻¹, chromium 0.15–1.27 μg g⁻¹, lead 0.12–0.23 μg g⁻¹ and nickel 0.09–0.21 μg g⁻¹ of dry weight. Chromium was found to be the most abundant followed by arsenic and lead. Nickel was undetectable in nine plant species. M. senegalensis contained the largest amounts of arsenic, chromium and lead. All metals determined were below the WHO permissive maximum levels. The possible maximum weekly intakes of the heavy metals following treatment regimes were insignificant compared to the provisional tolerable weekly intake levels recommended by WHO and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. This suggests that heavy metal exposure to patients originating from consumption of traditional medicinal plant preparations is within non health-compromising limits.     

Comparison of chromium and nickel uptake of plants grown in different soils

The chromium and nickel uptake of ryegrass has been examined in pot experiments in extremely different soils, poor sandy and fertile black chernozem. The effect of calcium carbonate doses and nitrogen supply on heavy metal uptake of the plant has been studied for chromium and nickel loadings (0–100 mg/kg Cr³⁺ or Ni²⁺) applied as inorganic salts. The ability to uptake Cr³⁺ and Ni²⁺ differs significantly and is highly affected by the characteristics of soils, and depends on the metal investigated. The heavy metal uptake of the plant differs significantly in acid, colloid deficient sandy soils; while artificial chromium contamination did not modify the dry-matter production in the pots in either soil, a large quantity of nickel reduced the yields significantly. Nitrogen application did not change significantly the uptake of heavy metals. Lime application reduced the Ni²⁺ uptake of plants considerably, especially in sandy soil. In case of a calcium carbonate addition the dry-matter production of the plant was not affected by nickel. In chernozem soil the effect of lime application – i.e., the reduction of nickel uptake – was of a lesser degree. The significantly lesser Cr³⁺ uptake was further limited by a calcium carbonate application for both soils studied. A graphic presentation of these effects is given.     

Comparison of chromium and nickel uptake of plants grown in different soils

The chromium and nickel uptake of ryegrass has been examined in pot experiments in extremely different soils, poor sandy and fertile black chernozem. The effect of calcium carbonate doses and nitrogen supply on heavy metal uptake of the plant has been studied for chromium and nickel loadings (0–100 mg/kg Cr³⁺ or Ni²⁺) applied as inorganic salts. The ability to uptake Cr³⁺ and Ni²⁺ differs significantly and is highly affected by the characteristics of soils, and depends on the metal investigated. The heavy metal uptake of the plant differs significantly in acid, colloid deficient sandy soils; while artificial chromium contamination did not modify the dry-matter production in the pots in either soil, a large quantity of nickel reduced the yields significantly. Nitrogen application did not change significantly the uptake of heavy metals. Lime application reduced the Ni²⁺ uptake of plants considerably, especially in sandy soil. In case of a calcium carbonate addition the dry-matter production of the plant was not affected by nickel. In chernozem soil the effect of lime application – i.e., the reduction of nickel uptake – was of a lesser degree. The significantly lesser Cr³⁺ uptake was further limited by a calcium carbonate application for both soils studied. A graphic presentation of these effects is given.     

Potential of Kalopanax septemlobus Leaf Extract in Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Selective Inhibition of Specific Bacterial Strain in Mixed Culture

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesised using Kalopanax septemlobus plant leaf extracts. UV-visible spectrophotometric, Fourier-transform infrared, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed synthesis of AgNPs. TEM micrographs revealed presence of well-dispersed AgNPs predominantly of small size and different shapes with an average particle size of 30.8 nm. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests of AgNP treatments revealed variability in sensitivity of bacteria Bacillus cereus and Saccharophagus degradans under study. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the AgNPs for B. cereus and S. degradans were found to be 30 and 10 μg/mL, respectively. The mixed culture of B. cereus and S. degradans treated with AgNPs at 10 μg/mL showed increase in growth with time, suggesting survival of bacteria in liquid media. The plating of mixed culture before AgNP treatment showed presence of both bacteria, but 24-h-old mixed culture treated with AgNPs at the concentration of 10 μg/mL showed presence of B. cereus colonies. SEM micrographs revealed damage to S. degradans cells but no effect on B. cereus cells after AgNP treatment. Confocal microscopic observations of AgNP-treated mixed cultures by Nile blue A staining indicated intact polyhydroxyalkanoates producing flourescent cells of B. cereus but damage and deformities in S. degradans cells. This study suggests that AgNPs can selectively inhibit growth of S. degradans and retain B. cereus at MIC of S. degradans. This report is a case study for selective inhibition of one bacteria and growth of the other in a culture using plant-synthesized silver nanoparticles.     

Bacillus cereus Toxin Repertoire: Diversity of (Iso)cereulide(s)

The emetic Bacillus cereus toxin cereulide (1) poses a significant safety risk in the food industry, causing emesis and nausea after consumption of contaminated foods. Analogously to cereulide, the structures of various isocereulides, namely, isocereulides A–G, have been recently reported and could also be identified in B. cereus-contaminated food samples. The HPLC fractionation of B. cereus extracts allows us to isolate additional isocereulides. By applying MSⁿ sequencing, post-hydrolytic dipeptide, amino acid and α-hydroxy acid analyses using UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS to purify the analytes, seven new isocereulides H–N (2–8) could be elucidated in their chemical structures. The structure elucidation was supported by one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectra of the isocereulides H (2), K (5), L and N (6 + 8) and M (7). The toxicity of 2–8 was investigated in a HEp-2 cell assay to determine their respective 50% effective concentration (EC₅₀). Thus, 2–8 exhibited EC₅₀ values ranging from a 0.4- to 1.4-fold value compared to cereulide (1). Missing structure-activity correlations indicate the necessity to determine the toxic potential of all naturally present isocereulides as single compounds to be able to perform a thorough toxicity evaluation of B. cereus-contaminated foods in the future.     

Radiosensitization of Bacillus cereus spores in minced meat treated with cinnamaldehyde

Minced meat beef inoculated with Bacillus cereus spores was treated with four essential oil constituents. The active compounds were sprayed separately onto the meat in order to determine the concentration needed to reduce by 1 log the population of B. cereus spores. Cinnamaldehyde was the best antimicrobial compound selected. It was mixed with ascorbic acid and/or sodium pyrophosphate decahydrate and tested for its efficiency to increase the relative radiation sensitivity (RRS) of B. cereus spores in minced meat packed under air. Results demonstrated that the radiation treatment in presence of the cinnamaldehyde and sodium phosphate decahydrate increased the RRS of B. cereus spores by two fold. The study revealed also that the irradiation of raw beef meat pre-treated with cinnamaldehyde produced an inhibition of the growth of B. cereus count during refrigerated storage. This technology seems to be compatible with industrial meat processing.     

The use of vetiver for remediation of heavy metal soil contamination

The use of Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) was studied to evaluate its efficiency for the remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals. Vetiver plants were tested for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. Phytoextraction and bioremediation experiments were carried out by irrigating the vetiver plants and the dry plants with solutions containing suitable amounts of Cr, Cu, Pd and Zn. The concentrations of the heavy metals were determined in both experiments in shoot and root parts of vetiver plants using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy after a mineralization step. Phytoextraction experiments showed a poor efficiency of vetiver for Cr and Cu uptake (both less than 0.1% in shoots and roots after 30 days), but a quite high capability of Pb and Zn uptake (0.4% in shoots and 1% in roots for Pb and 1% both in shoots and in roots for Zn, after 30 days). For these reasons the vetiver plant can be considered a quite good “hyperaccumulator” only for Pb and Zn. As for bioremediation experiments, the vetiver plant showed heavy metal uptake values significantly lower than those obtained with other biological substrates. Figure Vetiver plant     

Heavy metal concentrations in soil and wild plants growing around Pb-Zn sulfide terrain in the Kohistan region, northern Pakistan

This study investigates the soil and wild plants of the Pb-Zn sulfide bearing mineralized zone of Indian plate (IP) in the Pazang and Lahor sites, Kohistan region, northern Pakistan. Soil and plants were analyzed for major cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn) and heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co) concentrations by using atomic absorption spectrometer. Metal concentrations were used to quantify pollution contamination factors such as pollution load index (PLI) and plant bioaccumulation in soil and plants developed in mineralized zones in the Lahor and Pazang sites and an unmineralized zone (reference sites) of the Besham area. Soil and plants of the mineralized zone and surrounding areas have higher heavy metal (HM) contamination (P < 0.01) as compared to the reference site, which can be attributed to the dispersion of metals due to mining. Furthermore, in mineralized zones, the Lahor site was more contaminated than the Pazang site. This high HM contamination may pose potential threats to local communities of Kohistan region. The results also showed that plant species (Plectranthus rugosus, Rumex hastatus, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Heteropogon conturtus and Myrsine Africana) were the best HM accumulators.     

Analysis of heavy metals and sulphur-rich compounds in the water moss Fontinalis antipyretica L. ex Hedw.

The water moss Fontinalis antipyretica has been investigated to estimate heavy metal pollution in the river Elbe (middle Germany). Procedures of plant separation, digestion as well as an analytical method for ICP-MS analyses have been evaluated. Reproducibility and accuracy have been demonstrated on BCR 61 (NIST) reference material and results have been compared with AAS and AES data. The distribution of heavy metals in different plant segments of indigenous material has been analyzed. Exposition of plant material in the river Elbe have shown no correlation between the heavy metal content in plants and that of water samples. Cd and Zn concentrations found in the plant material are significantly enriched relatively to control samples. To understand the sophisticated ‘real system’ experiments have been carried out under laboratory conditions to investigate induced sulphur-rich compounds in the presence of heavy metals using HPLC including on-line derivatization.     

Mechanism of Action of Endophytic Fungi Hypocrea lixii and Beauveria bassiana in Phaseolus vulgaris as Biopesticides against Pea Leafminer and Fall Armyworm

Endophytic fungal isolates Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 and Beauveria bassiana G1LU3 were evaluated for their potential to endophytically colonize and induce active compounds in Phaseolus vulgaris, as a defense mechanism against pea leafminer (Liriomyza huidobrensis) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Endophytic colonization was achieved through seed inoculation with the volatile emissions from P. vulgaris plants being analyzed using GC-MS. The crude extracts of P. vulgaris obtained using methanol and dichloromethane were assayed against leafminer and fall armyworm larvae using leaf dipping and topical application, respectively. The two isolates successfully colonized the entire host plant (roots, stems, and leaves) with significant variation (p < 0.001) between fungal isolates and the controls. The results showed qualitative differences in the volatile profiles between the control plants, endophytically colonized and insect-damaged plants attributed to fungal inoculation and leafminer damage. The crude methanol extracts significantly reduced the percentage pupation of 2nd instar leafminer larvae (p < 0.001) and adult-flies emergence (p < 0.05). The survival of the 1st instar fall armyworm larvae was also significantly reduced (p < 0.001) compared to the controls. This study demonstrated the high potential of endophytic fungi H. lixii and B. bassiana in inducing mainly specific defense compounds in the common bean P. vulgaris that can be used against pea leafminer and fall armyworm.     

An Efficient and Reproducible Method for in vitro Clonal Multiplication of Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. and Evaluation of Genetic Stability using DNA-Based Markers

An efficient protocol is described for the rapid in vitro clonal propagation of an endangered medicinal plant, Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., through high frequency shoot induction from nodal explants collected from young shoots of a field grown plant. Effects of growth regulators [6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kin) 2iP, or ??-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)], carbohydrates, different medium [Murashige and Skoog (MS), Woody Plant Medium (WPM), Gamborg medium (B5), Linsmier and Skoog medium (LS)], and various pH levels on in vitro morphogenesis were investigated. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration (90?%) and maximum number of shoot (35.4?±?2.3) per explant were observed on WPM medium supplemented with 7.5???M BA, 2.5???M NAA, and 30?g/l sucrose at pH?5.8. Well-developed shoots, 4?C5?cm in length, were successfully rooted ex vitro at 90?% by a 30-min pulse treatment with 150???M IBA prior to their transfer in planting substrates. The survival rate of transplantation reached 90?% when transferred to field condition. Genetic stability of micropropagated plantlets was assessed and compared with mother plant using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA and Inter Simple Sequence Repeats markers. No variation was observed in DNA fingerprinting patterns among the micropropagated plants, which were similar to that of the donor plant illustrating their genetic uniformity and clonal fidelity. This confirms that clonal propagation of this plant using axillary shoot buds can be used for commercial exploitation of the selected genotype where a high degree of fidelity is an essential prerequisite. The work contributed to a better in vitro regeneration and clonal mass multiplication of R. tetraphylla and to develop a strategy for the germplasm conservation of this endangered medicinal plant.     

Heavy metal accumulation by selected plant species along the national highway: a case study of Udaipur,Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

A detailed research was conducted to find out the heavy metal accumulation by plant species at the roadside. Bioconcentration, bioaccumulation and translocation factors were estimated in 10 individuals of each investigating plant species. The plant and soil samples used in the research were collected along the National Highway-76 from Chittorgarh to Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The concentration of cadmium and lead in roadside soil, plant roots, stems and leaves shows a correlation. The highest bioconcentration factor of Cd and Pb was 0.22 ± 0.04 and 0.13 ± 0.02 estimated in Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. The highest translocation factor of Cd was 1.30 ± 0.50 in Pongamia pinnata L., and the highest translocation factor of Pb was 1.63 ± 0.45 estimated for Nerium oleander L. The average concentrations of Cd and Pb were 11.35 ± 1.60 and 223.70 ± 68 mg kg^?1 in investigated roadside soil. The average concentrations of accumulated Cd and Pb in B. spectabilisWilld. were 2.38 ± 0.49, 1.97 ± 0.51, 3.07 ± 0.78 and 29.34 ± 7.82,18.96 ± 5.62, 37.75 ± 12.93 mg kg^?1 in roots, stems and leaves, respectively. The decreasing order of bioaccumulation factor of cadmium in plants was B. spectabilis Willd.>Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub>Calotropis procera (Ailton) Dryand>N. oleander L.>P. pinnata L. The decreasing order of bioaccumulation factor of lead in plants was B. spectabilis Willd.>P. pinnataL.>B. monosperma (Lam.) Taub>C. procera (Ailton) Dryand>N. oleander L. The B. spectabilis Willd. was identified as a rhizofiltration tool of heavy metals such as Cd and Pb with higher bioconcentration factor. P. pinnata L. for Cd and N. oleander L. for Pb were revealed for phytoextraction technology with high translocator factor to accumulate and eliminate these toxic elements from soil.     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste recycling and uses for enhancement of bioremediation of arsenic in groundwater

Various studies on arsenic pollution reveal that high concentrations of arsenic were found in many districts of western Uttar Pradesh, India. There arsenic concentrations were higher than the permissible limit given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). There is a requirement to bioremediate arsenic due to its harmful effect. On the other hand, Poly(ethylene terephthalate) was being repeatedly used as packaging materials, due to which various environmental issues regarding PET waste disposal have generated. In the present study, PET waste was recycled into various aromatic amides by aminolysis and ammonolysis. These aromatic amides were used as surfactants. Various studies have been carried out for biosorption of heavy metal through Bacillus cereus. The efforts were made to enhance bioremediation of arsenic in different water samples spiked with Bacillus cereus in the presence of synthesized aromatic amides. This study explored the possibility to increase bioremediation of arsenic by bacteria using recycled PET waste. The results of this study indicated that in the presence of aromatic amides the percent biosorption could be enhanced by bacteria up to 20–60%.The other significant approach of this study is recycling of PET waste.     

A comparative analysis of gold-rich plant material using various analytical methods

During 2003 a field demonstration of gold phytoextraction technology was conducted in Brazil. As there is no commercially available biogeochemical standard reference material with an elevated concentration of gold, the trial biomass was analysed for its gold content using five analytical methods, at five laboratories, to confirm the concentration of gold in the harvested plant material. Nitric and hydrochloric acid digest followed by ICP-OES solution analysis of a doré bead prepared through fire assay of vegetative material was considered the benchmark analytical method to which the other results were compared. The gold concentrations reported by the five laboratories varied widely. Flame atomic absorption analysis of a solution prepared through the digest of plant ash by aqua regia proved the most accurate analytical method relative to fire assay. Gold concentrations reported by a New Zealand commercial laboratory using ICP-MS and a standard ‘biological materials digest’ procedure were affected by the digest method employed. X-ray fluorescence results may have been affected by synthetic standards that were prepared specifically for this investigation. Alternatively, matrix effects may not have been fully corrected for using XRF. Analysis of metal-rich biomass is becoming more common due to the popularity of studies that use plants to absorb heavy metals. The results of our comparative investigation emphasise that due care and consideration must be given to the selection of the analytical method chosen to analyse such plant material. Our results also highlight the need for standard reference materials that are suitably enriched in metals, such that these may be of use to phytoextraction studies.     

Ornamental Plant Efficiency for Heavy Metals Phytoextraction from Contaminated Soils Amended with Organic Materials

Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) by ornamental plants (OPs) from contaminated agriculture soils is a unique technique that can efficiently reduce the metal load in the food chain. Amaranthus tricolor L. has attractive characteristics acquiring a higher growth rate and large biomass when grown at heavy metal contaminated soils. Site-specific detailed information is not available on the use of A. tricolor plant in metal phytoremediation from the polluted sites. The study aimed to enhance the uptake of HMs (Pb, Zn, and Cu) via amending poultry litter extract (PLE), vinasse sugarcane (VSC), and humic acid (HA) as natural mobilized organic materials compared to ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), as a common mobilized chemical agent by A. tricolor plant. The studied soils collected from Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar (Cairo Governorate), Arab El-Madabeg (Assiut Governorate), Egypt, and study have been conducted under pot condition. Our results revealed all organic materials in all studied soils, except EDTA in EL-Gabal El-Asfar soil, significantly increased the dry weight of the A. tricolor plant compared to the control treatment. The uptake of Pb and Zn significantly (p > 0.05) increased due to applying all organic materials to the studied soils. HA application caused the highest uptake as shown in Pb concentration by more than 5 times in Helwan soil and EDTA by 65% in El-Gabal El-Asfar soil while VSC increased it by 110% in El-Madabeg soil. Also, an increase in Zn concentration due to EDTA application was 58, 42, and 56% for Helwan, El-Gabal El-Asfar, and El-Madabeg soil, respectively. In all studied soils, the application of organic materials increased the remediation factor (RF) than the control. El-Madabeg soil treated with vinasse sugarcane gave the highest RF values; 6.40, 3.26, and 4.02% for Pb, Zn, and Cu, respectively, than the control. Thus, we identified A. tricolor as a successful ornamental candidate that, along with organic mobilization amendments, most efficiently develop soil health, reduce metal toxicity, and recommend remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, long-term application of organic mobilization amendments and continued growth of A. tricolor under field conditions could be recommended for future directions to confirm the results.     

Plant Regeneration Through Callus Organogenesis and True-to-Type Conformity of Plants by RAPD Analysis in Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC.

An efficient plant regeneration protocol was established for an endangered ethnomedicinal plant Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC. Morphogenic calli were produced from 96 % of the cultures comprising the immature leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (4.0 mg?l^?1) in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA; 0.8 mg?l^?1). For callus regeneration, various concentrations of BA (1.0–5.0 mg?l^?1) or thidiazuron (TDZ; 1.0–5.0 mg?l^?1) alone or in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 0.2–1.0 mg?l^?1) were used. Highest response of shoot regeneration was observed on MS medium fortified with TDZ (4.0 mg?l^?1) and IAA (0.5 mg?l^?1) combination. Here, 100 % cultures responded with an average number of 22.3 shoots per gram calli. Inclusion of indole-3-butyric acid in half MS medium favored rooting of recovered shoots. Out of 45 rooted plants transferred to soil, 40 survived. Total DNA was extracted from the leaves of the acclimatized plants of D. gangeticum. Analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA using 13 arbitrary decanucleotide primers showed the genetic homogeneity in all the ten plants regenerated from callus with parental plant, suggesting that shoot regeneration from callus could be used for the true-to-type multiplication of this plant.     

The determination of heavy metal accumulation ratios in muscle, skin and gills of some migratory fish species by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya/Turkey)

In this study, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), magnesium (mg), nickel (Ni), chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co) and boron (B) accumulation ratios of muscle, skin and gill of Striped seabream (Sparidae, Lithognathus mormyrus), Golden grey mullet (Mugilidae, Liza aurata), Thicklip grey mullet (Mugilidae, Chelon labrasus), Flathead mullet (Mugilidae, Mugil cephalus), Gilthead seabream (Sparidae, Sparus aurata) and Thinlip mullet (Mugilidae, Liza ramada) in Beymelek Lagoon (Antalya/Turkey) were investigated. The analyses of elements were performed with inductively coupled plasma-optic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) by using microwave digestion techniques. There were significant variations among heavy metal accumulation levels of the species and their tissues. The heavy metal concentrations found in tissues varied for Cu: 0.28-5.11, Zn: 4.27-339.76, Mn: 0.0-12.81, Fe: 3.25-117.73, Cr: 0.0-1.40, Co: 0.0-3.29 and Mg: 168.73-659.16 mg/kg wet weight. Ni and B were not detected in any tissues of the species. The heavy metal concentrations of fish in Beymelek Lagoon were lower than those of fish from other contaminated Mediterranean regions of Turkey. This research showed that heavy metal concentrations in muscles of investigated species were also lower than the maximum levels set by law.     

Investigation of the binding properties of heavy-metal-peptide complexes in plant cell cultures using HPLC-ICP-MS

Metal-induced, sulfhydryl-rich peptides (phytochelatins) found in plants, algae, yeasts and fungi have been described as sequesters and detoxifiers of heavy metal ions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled on-line with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used for the determination of heavy metal binding properties of phytochelatins in Silene vulgaris cell cultures. The induction of phytochelatins and the binding of heavy metals to these complexes were investigated by exposure of cell cultures with different concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. An in vitro heavy metal saturation assay and in vivo stress experiments with those elements able to bind to phytochelatins were carried out in order to characterize the binding affinity and binding stability of these compounds. It is shown that of the metals investigated, Cu binds most stably to phytochelatins under in vitro and in vivo conditions.     

Incorporation of the Dry Blossom Flour of Sambucus nigra L. in the Production of Sponge Cakes

The present study aims to develop recipe compositions and technology for producing sponge cakes from wholemeal flour, partially replaced with a functional plant component dry blossom flour of Sambucus nigra L. Three designs of sponge cakes with 5, 10, and 15% content of flour of Sambucus nigra L. corrected up to 100% with whole-grain oat flour were studied. Their characteristics were compared with sponge cakes of 100% wheat flour/control. The obtained new products were characterized by reduced carbohydrates, increased content of dietary fiber, and preserved volume compared to the control. The physicochemical parameters of sponge cake and marshmallows with different concentrations of dry flowers of Sambucus nigra L. included in them differed from the control with lower water absorption, pH, and moisture, while having a higher relative mass and ash content and retaining the original size. Pathogenic microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus, and common coliforms were not detected in the control and experimental samples when determining the microbiological parameters. Therefore, the developed formulations are an excellent alternative to wheat flour, significantly improving some nutritional characteristics such as smell, taste, dietary fiber, and lower carbohydrate content.