Inorganic chemical approaches to pharmacognosy. V. X-ray fluorescence spectrometric studies on the inorganic constituents of crude drugs. (3). On the cinnamomi cortex

Inorganic constituents of many Cinnamomi Cortices (64 samples; almost all obtained commercially on the Osaka market) were investigated using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) The Cinnamomi Cortex contains K, Ca, and Fe (except for Japanese cinnamon) at lower levels than those of orchard leaves, while Mn and Sr are present at high levels. (2) A feature of the metals profile of Cinnamomi Cortex is high Mn-content. Especially, Chinese cinnamon (originated from Cinnamomum cassia) contains at extremely high levels, 300-900 ppm, whereas Mn concentrations of Java and Japanese cinnamons range from 100 to 300 ppm, and those of Ceylon cinnamon ranged from 50 to 150 ppm. (3) The contents of Mn and Rb depend on the kind of Cinnamomi Cortex, making identification possible.     

Morphological and physiological responses of barley plants grown on soils characterised by metal toxicity and metal deficiency

Aim of this work was to investigate which are the effects on barley crops grown on two different soils: a soil lacking in Cu, an essential micronutrient (A) and a naturally polluted soil rich in lead, zinc, copper (B). In particular we investigated the relationship between some ecophysiological parameters such as biomass, chlorophyll concentration and guaiacolo peroxidase activity and the chemical-physical properties of the soils like pH, organic matter and heavy metal content. Because metals uptake by plants is strongly correlated with the bioavailable fraction rather then their total amount in a soil, we have measured also metal exchangeable forms, using a single extraction method (MgCl2 as extractant). Plants grown on soil B showed a metal content higher than background limits, whereas plants grown on soil A were characterised by a background Fe and Zn concentrations and by a tolerant Pb concentration. Conversely, Cu content in tissues of plants grown in soil A is found to be under the background limits. Copper-deficiency plants present chlorotic leaves followed by a reduced clorophyll content, while plants grown on metals contaminated soil showed an increase of peroxidase activity.     

The protective role of melatonin under heavy metal-induced stress in Melissa Officinalis L.

Heavy metals, due to their inability to degrade, pose a serious environmental and nutritional problem. The accumulation of essential and non-essential heavy metals in living organisms reduces normal growth and development, resulting in acute poisoning, disease and even death of organisms. Melatonin is a very important multifunctional molecule in protecting plants from oxidative stress due to its ability to directly neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, melatonin has a chelating property, which may contribute in reducing metal-induced toxicity. In this paper, the protective role of melatonin in counteracting metal-induced free radical generation was highlighted. Using the HPLC-FLD technique melatonin was identified and quantified in the roots and leaves of lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.), grown under photoperiod conditions. Furthermore, the response of plants pre-treated with exogenous 0.1 mM melatonin to the increased zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations was observed, with changes in mineral (Ca, Mg), physiological and antioxidant status of the plant during heavy metals stress. The obtained melatonin concentrations were the highest published for dry plants so far. Elevated Cd and Zn levels in soil caused alternation in biochemical and physiological parameters of lemon balm leaves and roots. However, melatonin pre-treatment increased plant tolerance to heavy metals stress. Increased Cd and Zn uptake and their translocation into the leaves were also improved, indicating the possible use of melatonin in phytoremediation.     

Effect of Environmental Pollution on Heavy Metals Content of Withania Somnifera

Heavy metals were investigated in the medicinal plant Withania somnifera as well as of the soil it was grown in using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The plant samples were collected from three different locations of N.W.F.P, Pakistan. The plant parts including roots, stem, leaves and fruits were found to have the quantity of heavy metals corresponding to their content in the soil. The purpose of the study is to create awareness among people about the proper use and collection of medicinal plants containing high levels of heavy metals and their adverse health affects.     

Study of the influence of carboxymethylcellulose on the absorption of selenium (and selected metals) in a target plant

The aim of the present paper is the study of the influence of a polysaccharide (carboxymethylcellulose, CMC) on uptake by a target plant Lactuca sativa (LS) of selenium and some metals. LS was grown on a well characterized soil: such as, treated with 1.5 mg kg⁻¹ Se(IV) only and with two levels of CMC (3 and 30 mg kg⁻¹). Similar experiments were carried out by using Se(VI) instead of Se(IV). Uptake was evaluated through the quantification of total content of Se in dried leaves and roots by a suitable technique (graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry, instrumental neutron activation analysis and differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry). Results evidenced as the uptake of selenium was dependent on the form of selenium added to the soil: Se(VI) is accumulated much more then Se(IV) according to its lower toxicity and higher mobility. The simultaneous presence of CMC led to a lower selenium uptake in leaves, whereas no clear influence was evidenced in roots. Furthermore, the presence of CMC influenced also the mobility process (soil→plant) of several other metals: a lower content of them was detected in plants when CMC was present in the soil.     

Determination of trace elements in a medicinal plant by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of inorganic elements in medicinal plants may be related to the concentration of active constituents. Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been employed to determine the elements antimony, cesium, chlorine, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium, rubidium, selenium, sodium and zinc in different parts of Helleborus cyclophyllus BOISS. and in the soil in which the plant was grown. It has been found that antimony has a selective accumulation in the rhizome of this plant where the active constituents are located, as well as chlorine in petioles and leaves.     

Investigation of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and multivariate analysis for differentiating inorganic and organic C in a variety of soils

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) along with multivariate analysis was used to differentiate between the total carbon (C), inorganic C, and organic C in a set of 58 different soils from 5 soil orders. A 532 nm laser with 45 mJ of laser power was used to excite the 58 samples of soil and the emission of all the elements present in the soil samples was recorded in a single spectrum with a wide wavelength range of 200–800 nm. The results were compared to the laboratory standard technique, e.g., combustion on a LECO-CN analyzer, to determine the true values for total C, inorganic C, and organic C concentrations. Our objectives were: 1) to determine the characteristic spectra of soils containing different amounts of organic and inorganic C, and 2) to examine the viability of this technique for differentiating between soils that contain predominantly organic and/or inorganic C content for a range of diverse soils. Previous work has shown that LIBS is an accurate and reliable approach to measuring total carbon content of soils, but it remains uncertain whether inorganic and organic forms of carbon can be separated using this approach. Total C and inorganic C exhibited correlation with rock-forming elements such as Al, Si, Fe, Ti, Ca, and Sr, while organic C exhibited minor correlation with these elements and a major correlation with Mg. We calculated a figure of merit (Mg/Ca) based on our results to enable differentiation between inorganic versus organic C. We obtained the LIBS validation prediction for total, inorganic, and organic C to have a coefficient of regression, r² = 0.91, 0.87, and 0.91 respectively. These examples demonstrate an advance in LIBS-based techniques to distinguish between organic and inorganic C using the full wavelength spectra.     

The Effect of Carbonate Soil on Transport and Dose Estimates for Long-Lived Radionuclides at a U.S. Pacific Test Site

The United States conducted a series of nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958 at Bikini, a coral atoll, in the Marshall Islands (MI). The aquatic and terrestrial environments of the atoll are still contaminated with several long-lived radionuclides that were generated during testing. The four major radionuclides found in terrestrial plants and soils are cesium-137, strontium-90, plutonium-239+240 and americium-241. Cesium-137 in the coral soils is more available for uptake by plants than ¹³⁷Cs associated with continental soils of North America or Europe. Soil-to-plant ¹³⁷Cs median concentration ratios (CR) (kBq·kg^-1 dry weight plant/kBq·kg^-1 dry weight soil) for tropical fruits and vegetables range between 0.8 and 36, much larger than the range of 0.005 to 0.5 reported for vegetation in temperate zones. Conversely, ⁹⁰Sr median CRs range from 0.006 to 1.0 at the atoll versus a range from 0.02 to 3.0 for continental silica-based soils. Thus, the relative uptake of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr by plants in carbonate soils is reversed from that observed in silica-based soils. The CRs for ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am are very similar to those observed in continental soils. Values range from 10^-6 to 10^-4 for both ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am. No significant difference is observed between the two in coral soil. The uptake of ¹³⁷Cs by plants is enhanced because of the absence of mineral binding sites and the low concentration of potassium in the coral soil. Cesium-137 is bound to the organic fraction of the soil, whereas ⁹⁰Sr, ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am are primarily bound to soil particles. Assessment of plant uptake for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr into locally grown food crops was a major contributing factor in: (1) reliably predicting the radiological dose for returning residents and (2) developing a strategy to limit the availability and uptake of ¹³⁷Cs into locally grown food crops.     

Study of the effect of uranium and thorium on the growing of pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum var. longum</Emphasis>) and cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis>) plants

The transportation rate of uranium and thorium to different plants grown in soils having high level of these elements varies closely with the plant characteristics. In this study, the pepper (Capsicum annuum var. longum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants were chosen as vegetables which are commonly consumed over different regions by different populations. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) High uranium concentration in the soil prevents the growing of the plants. Only the plants in the pot having the uranium concentration of about 263 ppm grew significantly. The plants in other pots having a higher concentration turned pale and died in a few weeks. (2) In the pot having thorium level of about 263 ppm, the plants were well grown and fruited in comparison to the control plants, but the increase of thorium concentration inversely influenced their growing. (3) The gross activities measured in different parts of the plants were not particularly high, however, in both cases the maximum activities were measured in the stems rather than in the fruits and leaves. (4) The plants grown in soils having thorium content lived longer than the control plants and at the greenhouse conditions indicated above, all plants lived more than one whole year flowering and fruiting.     

The Assessment of Phytoremediation Potential of Invasive Weed Amaranthus spinosus L.

Presently the environment is heavily polluted by various toxic metals, which creates danger for all living beings. Heavy metals are toxic above certain threshold levels. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology which is quite a novel technique of cleaning polluted sites through the use of plants. Phytoremediation methods are comparatively cheap and ecologically advantageous, compared to conventional and physicochemical methods like precipitation, evaporation and chemical reduction. In this respect, plants can be compared to solar-driven pumps capable of extracting and concentrating certain elements from their environment. Amaranthus spinosus, an invasive weed seen on road sides and bare land belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, was selected for the present study. A greenhouse experiment was conducted and consisted of a range-finding test and definitive test for various concentrations of heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb and Cd. Plants were grown in soil treated with different concentration of metals depending upon the threshold level. The bio-organics of the plant such as soluble sugar, protein, lipid, phenol, amino acid and photosynthetic pigments were estimated after 30?days of treatment. The bio-organics showed profound variation in response to accumulation of heavy metals. Accumulation of Cu, Pb and Cd was high in the roots followed by stem and leaves and that of Zn and Cr remained high in aerial parts. A steady increase was noticed in the bioaccumulation of copper, zinc and cadmium on enhancing the concentration of the corresponding metal in the soil. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor were above unity in most of the treatments and increased as the concentration of treatment increased which indicated that A. spinosus is a potential agent for heavy metal accumulation and translocation.     

Uptake,Translocation, and Bioaccumulation of Elements in Forest Nettle (Laportea alatipes)

Elements found in the edible parts of plants are considered to be the main source of nutrients for humans and animals. However, there is insufficient information on the relationship between heavy metal pollution in the growing soil of most edible plants. In this study, the distribution of elements in the edible forest nettle (Laportea alatipes) was evaluated as a function of geographical location. Forest land soils had higher concentrations of minor elements (Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn) compared to soils from rural and suburban areas. Translocation factors for Cd and Pb showed effective translocation from the roots to the leaves; however, these heavy metals in leaves were still above South African maximum permissible levels for vegetables. Atmospheric depositions may play a significant role in higher Cd and Pb concentrations in the leaves. Bioaccumulation factors showed the plant to accumulate Cu, Mn, and Zn to meet physiological requirement levels. Geoaccumulation indices and enrichment factors showed no soil contamination or minimal enrichment by trace metals. Principal component analysis showed Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soil to originate from a common source which may be soil silicates and other minerals.     

无花果叶微量元素的分析

对无花果叶中微量元素进行了检测，结果表明：无花果叶含有微量元素锶、锰、铁、铜、锌、铬、镍、硒、钴，其中以铁、锌含量最高。同时还测定出镁、钙含量也极高。此与无花果果实所含的微量元素有很大的相似性和可比性，同样能用于防治癌症、痔疮等疾病，还可用于治疗糖尿病，具有较高的药用价值和开发优势。     

云南松枝梢营养成分分析

对云南松健康树和纵坑切梢小蠹蛀害树枝梢营养成分进行了分析,在健康树和蛀害树松梢中分别检测出11种氨基酸和14种氨基酸。健康树松梢中元素含量变化趋势由高到低为Ca,Mg,Al,Mn,Fe,B,Zn,Sr,Ni,蛀害树松梢中无机元素含量变化趋势由高到低为Ca,Mg,Al,Fe,Mn,B,Zn,Sr,Ni,为查找纵坑切梢小蠹蛀害的原因提供依据和数据。     

甜瓜各器官6种重金属富集及转运能力 差异的比较分析

为比较6种重金属元素在甜瓜植株各器官中富集及转运能力的差异,于果实成熟期采集土壤、根、茎、叶、果实并测定其中的Cr、Cu、As、Ni、Pb和Cd 6种重金属元素,在此基础上,通过富集系数、转运系数,评估了植株不同器官中重金属元素富集能力的差异,比较了各迁移阶段6种重金属元素转运能力的差异。结果显示,各器官中,根富集重金属元素的能力最强,较其他受试重金属元素,Cd和Cu更易在甜瓜植株中富集;迁移各阶段中,Cr、Ni、As、Pb 4种重金属元素由茎转运至果实和叶片的能力相对较强,Cd由根转运至茎的转运能力更强;重金属元素Cu由茎转运至叶片的能力相对较弱。不同重金属元素在甜瓜植株各器官中的富集、转运能力有所差异,宜根据目标调控重金属元素种类,开展对应主要转运阶段阻滞技术的研究与探讨。     

Systematic Identification of Analytical Indicators to Measure Soil Load on Plants for Safety Assessment Purposes

Abstract

Contaminants in soil can be transferred to humans and other biota when soil dust on plants is ingested as food. Measuring how much soil is on plants, in the absence of artificial tracers or contaminants, is difficult because of the very small amounts involved and the confounding effect of absorption of elements through roots. However, measurements of soil load are essential for assessment modelling. We compared the ability of several analysis strategies, involving naturally occurring elements, to predict the soil load on plants. Large samples of 12 vegetable and fruit crops were collected, along with corresponding soil samples. An independent measure of soil load on the crop samples was derived from a combination of gravimetric measurements, including loss on washing and the acid-insoluble ash content. The best agreement between the elemental-abundance and the gravimetric methods was for Sr in the plant acid-insoluble ash. Through a systematic process of elimination, we conclude that analyses of the acid-insoluble ash fraction of the plant samples for Al, Ba, Fe, Si, Sr and Ti are most reliable. If analyses are to be restricted to the full plant ash, then the choice of analytes is restricted to Al, Fe, Si and Ti. Soil loads in our study averaged 20 mg soil kg^?1 dry plant for leafy tissues and 2 mg soil kg^?1 for fruits, and washing decreased soil loads about 1.5 fold.     

Study of loss and recuperation of inorganic elements of osteoporotic rat bone with nuclear analytical techniques

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SRXRF) were used to study the loss and recuperation of inorganic elements of osteoporotic rat bone and the effects of Zhugu Capsule. The results of the animal experiments showed that there was greater loss of multiple elements in cancellous bone than in cortical bone that was difficult to be improved. Yet in the mid-shaft femur, which is mainly consisted of cortical bone, the contents of multiple elements were notably recuperated. Zhugu Capsule could increase the content of not only of Ca, but also Zn and Sr. Further, it could also improve the distribution of these elements in femur.     

Influence of Soil Salinity on Selected Element Contents in Different Brassica Species

Climate changes in coastal regions cause increased soil salinity, a well-known type of environmental stress for a high number of agricultural crop species, including Brassicaceae, whose growth and development, and consequently the crop quality and yield, are affected by salinity stress. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of salt stress on micro- and macro-element homeostasis in different Brassica crops. Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), white cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata) and Chinese cabbage (B. rapa ssp. pekinensis) were grown hydroponically and treated with 200 mmol/L sodium chloride for 24 h to mimic short-term salt stress. The contents of Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn were determined in the roots and leaves of the salt-treated plants and corresponding controls by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. While Al, Ca, K, Mg and Na were determined in the mg/g range, the contents of the other elements were found at the µg/g level. A statistical analysis of the obtained data showed that the applied salt treatment significantly influenced the single-element contents in different plant parts. The major elements Ca, K and Mg were mainly unaffected in the more-salt-tolerant kale and white cabbage under salinity stress, while K and Mg were significantly decreased in the more-sensitive Chinese cabbage. The levels of micro-elements were found to be species/variety specific. In general, potentially toxic elements were accumulated in the roots of salt-treated plants to a higher extent than in the corresponding controls.     

Elemental fingerprint analysis of barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum vulgare</Emphasis>) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,isotope-ratio mass spectrometry,and multivariate statistics

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IR-MS) have been used to examine the multi-elemental composition and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N and ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratios of three spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) genotypes (Orthega, Barke, and Bartok) grown in three typical Danish agricultural soils (North Jutland, West Jutland, and East Zealand) differing in soil fertility. The aim of the study was to examine whether it was possible to generate a unique elemental fingerprint of individual barley genotypes irrespective of the elemental imprint plants had received from soils differing in fertility and agricultural practice. Multivariate statistics were used to analyze the elemental fingerprints of the barley genotypes at different times during a full growing season from early tillering to full maturity of the barley grains. Initially, 36 elements were analyzed in the plant samples but this number was subsequently reduced to 15 elements: B, Ba, C, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn. These elements exceeded the limit of detection (LOD) for all genotypes, soil types, and plant growth stages and for these elements the accuracy was better than 90% compared with apple leaf certified reference material (CRM). Principal component analysis (PCA) separated multi-elemental data in accordance with soil type when plants of similar physiological age were compared, whereas this separation disappeared if plants of all ages were compared simultaneously. Isotope ratios (¹⁵N) of plants also proved to be a highly accurate property for classification of samples according to soil type. In contrast, the differences in ¹³C were too small to enable such classification. The differences in ¹⁵N among soils were so pronounced that separation of samples according to the physiological age of plants became redundant. However, ¹⁵N and the multi-elemental analysis revealed no differences between the three barley genotypes, indicating that the influence of soil chemistry and possibly also climate and agricultural practice was too large to allow an unique elemental fingerprint for the genotypes. This finding was substantiated by analyzing the multi-elemental composition of grain from two additional genotypes (Otira and Barthos) grown at the north and east locations, respectively. PCA showed not only that the elemental fingerprints of these two genotypes were similar to those of the others, but also that the soil in which the plant had been growing could be accurately predicted on the basis of the PCA scores from the genotypes Orthega, Barke, and Bartok. Similar conclusions could be drawn using ¹⁵N data.     

Multitracer study on transport and distribution of metal ions in plants

Transport and distribution of metal ions in rice and soybean plants were studied using multitracers produced by irradiating an Au target by 135 MeV/nucleon¹²C,¹⁴N, or¹⁶O ions accelerated by RIKEN Ring Cyclotron. The multitracer consisted of radioisotopes of the following elements: Be, Na, Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ag, Te, Ba, Ce, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ir, and Pt. Rice and soybean plants were grown in a nutrient solution and also on soil containing a multitracer. -ray spectroscopy of different parts of the plants showed that all the elements were more or less taken up by roots, while appreciable transport to leaves and seeds was observed only for Mn, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, and Ba.     

用植物叶片中重金属元素含量指示大气污染的研究

通过对潮州市区交通繁忙路段和对照区 (红山森林公园 )不同植物叶片重金属元素 (Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn)的含量研究 ,探讨了重金属含量与城市大气污染之间的关系。结果表明 ,植物叶片中的重金属元素富积量和大气中污染指数正相关。植物叶片的重金属元素富积量可较好和客观地指示市区大气的重金属污染状况。该研究为城市规划和环境保护提供了科学依据