Exogenous paraquat changes antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in drought-stressed cucumber leaves

In order to examine whether paraquat modifies the functioning of antioxidants and oxidative stress levels in drought-stressed plants, a cucumber cultivar (Cucumis sativus cv. Yuexiu no. 3) was grown hydroponically for 2 days. Drought stress, which was induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG), increased the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide radical (O₂⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in cucumber leaves, while pretreatment of paraquat decreased them. Under drought stress induced by PEG, we observed the decreased contents of MDA, H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ in paraquat-pretreated plants in comparison to unpretreated stressed plants. Drought stress and paraquat both increased the activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), monodehydroascorbate reducatase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), reduced glutathione (GSH) and reduced ascorbate (AsA). But the combined effect of paraquat application and drought stress resulted in the highest activities of antioxidants. So paraquat is able to moderate the activities of scavenging system enzymes and to influence oxidative stress intensity under drought stress induced by PEG.     

猕猴桃果实发育过程中AsA代谢产物积累及相关酶活性的变化

 以美味猕猴桃品种‘秦美’果实为材料, 研究了其生长发育过程中与AsA代谢循环系统相关的物质抗坏血酸(AsA) 、谷胱甘肽(GSH) 、草酸(OA) 、酒石酸( TA) 和过氧化氢(H₂O₂ ) 的含量及相关酶活性的变化及其相互关系。结果表明: 在果实生长发育过程中, 花后AsA含量明显增加, 花后30 d达到最高后开始下降, 花后75 d后基本保持不变。就整个果实中总的AsA积累量而言, 花后开始显著增加, 到45 d达到最大值后至成熟基本保持不变。这表明猕猴桃果实的AsA积累主要发生在幼果期。GSH随着果实发育在花后120 d前其含量及积累量均有增加, 但积累也主要发生在幼果期。OA含量的变化与H₂O₂含量和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX) 活性相似, 均在花后开始显著下降, 到花后30 d后变化不大; 而TA含量的变化趋势与AsA一致。抗坏血酸氧化酶(AO) 、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR) 和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR) 的活性变化基本一致, 均在花后开始显著升高, 60 d达到最大后迅速下降, 在90 d后至成熟基本保持不变。     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth,mineral nutrition,antioxidant enzymes activity and fruit yield of tomato grown under salinity stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying alleviation of salt stress by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Zhongzha105) plants were cultivated in soil with 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl. Mycorrhization alleviated salt induced reduction of root colonization, growth, leaf area, chlorophyll content, fruit fresh weight and fruit yield. The concentrations of P and K were higher in AM compared with nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. Na concentration was lower in AM than nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. AMF colonization was accompanied by an enhancement of activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves of both salt-affected and control plants. In addition, inoculation with AMF caused reduction in MDA content in comparison to salinized plants, indicating lower oxidative damage in the colonized plants.     

Photosynthesis and growth responses of grapevine to acetochlor and fluoroglycofen

Acetochlor and fluoroglycofen are herbicides used in vineyards to eradicate weeds. This present study characterized the effects of these chemicals on photosynthetic characteristics and the antioxidant enzyme system in non-target grape leaves. The results showed that acetochlor and fluoroglycofen reduced net photosynthetic rate in a dose-dependent manner, but also reduced or increased pigment contents, respectively. According to chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, acetochlor and fluoroglycofen decreased the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II in the light and increased non-photochemical quenching. These herbicides enhanced malondialdehyde contents and accelerated the superoxide anion production rate in dose-dependent manners, which might be associated with lower antioxidant enzyme activities, especially at higher concentrations of the herbicides. Acetochlor and fluoroglycofen inhibited grapevine growth in the growth season one-year after herbicide treatment, and stem height was inhibited by up to 55.4% and 88.0%, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that both herbicides are detrimental for grape photosynthesis and this might be associated with increased oxidative stress in the first year, while growth inhibition in the second year might be due to after effects of herbicide treatment.     

Growth, Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Responses in Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) under Short-term Salinity Stress and its Recovery

Spatio-temporal differences under short-term NaCl-salinity (0, 50, 100, 150 m m l⁻¹) stress for 24 h and post-NaCl recovery after 24 h on the growth, water relations, ionic composition, proline and antioxidants of 12-day-old roots, stem and leaves of Vigna radiata were observed. Fresh and dry weight, relative water content and K⁺ ion decreased, whereas, Na⁺ ion and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio increased significantly in roots, stem and leaves. Post-NaCl recovered roots, stem and leaves showed similar results with lower values. Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments decreased significantly in the leaves. Peroxide and lipid peroxidation level increased significantly with higher ratio in stressed compared to recovered leaves. Ascorbate and proline content increased significantly with no significant change in glutathione content in stressed roots, stem and leaves. Significant decrease in protein content, SOD, CAT, POX, APX and GR activities was observed in roots with no significant change in stem and leaves. The recovered parts showed similar results except increased POX and GR activities showing a tissue-specific response to NaCl-salinity stress. Improved tolerance to salt stress may be accomplished by increased capacity of antioxidative defence system and by lower level of lipid peroxidation and improvement in the plant water status, activities of some of the antioxidants in the recovered parts suggest that significant tissue differences in response to salt stress in V. radiata is closely related to differences in the activities of antioxidants, ion and proline content.     

油菜种子发芽过程中依赖于抗坏血酸的H_2O_2清除酶活性的变化

用在黑暗中培养７２ｈ的油菜种子，研究其吸胀和发芽过程中依赖于抗坏血酸Ｈ２Ｏ２清除途径的酶和过氧化氢酶的活性变化．实验表明，油菜干种子抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性很低，种子在吸胀过程中，活性缓慢增加，萌发后活性很快增加．单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性在种子萌发以后增加很快，而脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶除了在种子萌发后短时间内增加以外，活性变化不大．谷胱甘肽还原酶活性在种子萌发以后明显增加．过氧化氢酶的活性在种子萌发前开始增加，萌发后增加较快．每粒种子的抗坏血酸含量萌发后增加明显，而单位鲜重的抗坏血酸含量变化不大．单位鲜重脱氢抗坏血酸含量减少     

Magnesium deficiency induced oxidative stress and antioxidant responses in mulberry plants

The aim of the study was to implicate induction of oxidative stress and antioxidative responses with the effects of Mg deficiency in mulberry plants. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) cv. Kanva-2 plants grown in hydroponics were subjected to deficiency of Mg. Mg-deficient plants developed visible symptoms—deep interveinal chlorotic mottling and necrosis in the older and middle leaves. The decreases in the dry matter yield of plants and concentrations of sugars and starch in the leaves of Mg-deficient plants are suggestive of decreased photosynthetic activity. Mg-deficiency decreased concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, and increased concentrations of H₂O₂ and ascorbate and activities of antioxidative enzymes—peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results suggest induction of oxidative stress by enhancing generation of ROS and inducing alterations in redox status, accompanied by activation of antioxidant machinery including induction of some new SOD isoforms in Mg-deficient mulberry plants. Despite significant increase in H₂O₂, lipid peroxidation was decreased in Mg-deficient plants.     

Oxidation, antioxidants and cataract formation: a literature review

PURPOSE: This review aims to provide a literature survey of the association between photo-oxidation of lens proteins and lipid peroxidation with the genesis of age-related cataract in laboratory studies using rodent models, in epidemiological and interventional studies in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Medline search using initial search terms lens, oxidation, antioxidant, and diet was employed to search for research papers covering the areas noted above from 1995 to 2005. Literature cited in those papers was also reviewed to provide as comprehensive a coverage of research work as possible. RESULTS: Lens protein photo-oxidation and lipid peroxidation are widely acknowledged as important steps in age-related cataractogenesis. Dietary antioxidants are central in retarding cataractogenesis, although most evidence for this is gained from laboratory-based work on relatively unphysiologic rodent cataract models, using antioxidant regimes that could not be sustained in clinical practice. Most research in humans is retrospective epidemiology although some interventional research has been undertaken, with mixed results. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary antioxidants are likely to be important in retarding cataractogenesis in older animals and in humans. Work on companion animals could provide a valuable stepping stone between rodent-based laboratory work and human interventional studies.     

Application of Natural Antioxidants from Strawberry Tree （Arbutus unedo L.） and Dog Rose （Rosa canina L.） to Frankfurters Subjected to Refrigerated Storage

The effect of the addition of natural antioxidants from strawberry tree （Arbutus unedo L.; AU） and dog rose （Rosa canina L.; RC）, in frankfurters elaborated with or without the addition of antioxidant additives （sodium ascorbate and nitrite） was studied. Six different types of experimental frankfurters were prepared depending on the addition of phenolic-rich extracts from RC and AU and the presence （P） or absence （C） of antioxidant additives. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances （TBARS）-numbers signiifcantly increased during chilled storage of C-frankfurters while additives and fruit phenolics inhibited lipid oxidation in P-frankfurters. The amount of protein carbonyls signiifcantly increased in all treatments except in P-AU frankfurters. The discoloration process that occurred during the chilled storage was reduced by the addition of substances with proven antioxidant activity （P-frankfurters）. Texture characteristics as hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and gumminess also suffered a signiifcant deterioration in C-frankfurters. The use of phenolic fruit extracts in combination with traditional antioxidant additives is a successful strategy to enhance the oxidative stability of frankfurters without modifying their color and texture properties.     

Cr^（3＋）胁迫对青菜中植物络合素含量及AsA-GSH代谢关键酶活性的影响

采用不同浓度Cr3＋处理,测定不同耐铬性青菜品种叶片中抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽（AsA-GSH）代谢关键酶活性及植物络合素含量等生理指标。结果表明,随着处理浓度的增加,两个青菜品种叶片中植物络合素及抗氧化剂含量呈增加趋势。高浓度Cr3＋（250mg·L-1）处理下,耐铬性强的矮抗青品种叶片中超氧阴离子（O-2·）含量与对照相比增幅较小,耐铬性差的绿秀品种则增幅较大;耐铬性强的矮抗青叶片中还原型抗坏血酸（AsA）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量显著高于对照（P〈0.05）,而绿秀品种则略增,差异不显著（P〉0.05）;耐铬性强的矮抗青品种叶片中脱氢抗坏血酸（DHA）、氧化型谷胱甘肽（GSSG）含量分别是对照的1.87、1.72倍,低于耐性差的绿秀品种（1.98、1.94倍）。随着铬处理浓度的增加,AsA-GSH关键酶活性呈先增后降趋势。高浓度Cr3＋处理下,耐铬性强的矮抗青品种叶片中植物络合素（PCs）含量、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）及脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（DHAR）活性分别比对照增加了30.9%、38.9%、45.2%,而耐性差的绿秀分别增加了11.5%、30.5%、43.0%。综合分析表明,矮抗青在Cr3＋处理下具有较高的AsA-GSH代谢关键酶活性和非酶物质含量,可能是不同青菜品种对Cr3＋耐受性差异的内在生理原因。