Selenium biofortification improves bioactive composition and antioxidant status in Plantago ovata Forsk., a medicinal plant

Abstract Background Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans, but its deficiency as well as toxicity affects large number of people worldwide. Plantago ovata, a commercially important medicinal plant, is mainly cultivated in western regions of India, where elevated levels of Se have been found in soil. Thus, we evaluated the potential of Se biofortification in P. ovata via phytoremediation and its effect on the bioactive composition. Results The results showed a significant alteration in various morphological and physiological parameters in a dose-dependent manner. The 10 µM Se dose improved seedling height, biomass and total chlorophyll content. There was a gradual increase in total Se content, with highest accumulation of 457.65 µg/g FW at 500 µM Se treatment. Se positively affected the antioxidative metabolism which was measured from the change in total antioxidant capacity, radical scavenging activity and Metallothionein 2 expression. Increasing levels of Se also affected the PAL activity, total polyphenol and flavonoid content. Caffeic acid, Coumaric acid and Rutin were found to be the most abundant phenolic compounds. Conclusions Low levels of selenium (below 50 µM) can successfully improve Se accumulation and elicit production of various polyphenols without hampering plant growth. Thus, Se fortification of P. ovata seedlings via phytoremediation appears to be a feasible and efficient way to enhance its nutraceutical value in dietary products

Chromium (VI) – induced stress response in the plant Plantago ovata Forsk in vitro

Abstract Background Plants experience severe physiological stress from heavy metal pollution caused by improper discarding of the industrial wastes. Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is one of the major heavy metal pollutants in India and is present particularly in some regions where Plantago ovata grows to a great extent. This study was aimed at finding the effects of Cr (VI) on P. ovata and manoeuvres of the plant to combat such heavy metal exposure in vitro. Methods Potassium dichromate was used as a source of Cr (VI) to induce the heavy metal stress. Range of Cr (VI) sublethal doses [0 mM (control), 0.1 mM, 0.3 mM, 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 1.5 mM and1.8 mM] was used to observe its effect on the plant. The seeds of the plant were grown on sucrose-agar media with different concentrations of potassium dichromate, and ten-day old seedlings were then harvested and examined. Results The germination rate reduced below 50% at 1.9 mM Cr (VI) concentration and thus, 0 mM–1.8 mM concentration ranges were found to be suitable for sublethal dose. Morphological changes namely, reduction of the shoot-root length and multiple root development were caused by Cr (VI) in a dose-dependent manner. The plant showed elevated responses against Cr (VI), up to 1.5 mM (10 days treated) in terms of increasing accumulation of secondary metabolites like polyphenols, chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll), carotenoids and total antioxidant activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity along with malondialdehyde (MDA) content was not significantly elevated with the increase in Cr (VI) concentration indicating that the lipid peroxidation rate within the tissue was low. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) gene expressions were upregulated by 1 mM Cr (VI) concentration, which decreased at higher concentrations. The atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis also showed significant accumulation of Cr (VI) in the shoot and root with an increase in the potassium dichromate concentration. Conclusion Cr (VI) reduced the shoot-root length and seed germination in a dose-dependent manner. The plant system tried to combat the Cr (VI) stress by upregulating the stress response genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway along with an increase in polyphenol and antioxidant contents, which were evident from the lowering of lipid peroxidation rate and increase in PAL and PPO gene expressions

Additional file 1 of Selenium biofortification improves bioactive composition and antioxidant status in Plantago ovata Forsk., a medicinal plant

Supplementary Material

Additional file 1: of Chromium (VI) – induced stress response in the plant Plantago ovata Forsk in vitro

Table S1. Designed primers for sequencing of PPO gene. Table S2. PCR conditions of PPO gene amplification for sequencing. Table S3. Primers for expression analysis. Table S4. Reaction conditions for expression analysis. (DOCX 15 kb

Biochemic System of Medicine

The biochemic system of medicine, also known as the inorganic cell salt therapy, pioneered by Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler, following the footsteps of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, is the oldest form of nutraceutical therapy approved and recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the complementary therapies. The chapter presents the fundamental ideology and concepts that underlies the promising system of biochemic medicine as concisely, simply, and to-the-point as possible. The chapter begins with a brief introduction to biochemic system, nutrition science, and concepts of nutraceuticals, followed by a brief history and literature review. It covers biochemic system of medicine and its relevant concepts before closing the chapter with a conclusion. </jats:p