MYSTERIES BEHIND MYSTERIES BEHIND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SMART WONDERSSMART WONDERS

(PHYTOINDICATORS)(PHYTOINDICATORS)

&&

BIOACCUMULATORSBIOACCUMULATORS

OF OF

POLLUTANT SOAKING PLANTSPOLLUTANT SOAKING PLANTS

Government College of PharmacyGovernment College of Pharmacy

Amravati-444604.(M.S.) INDIA.Amravati-444604.(M.S.) INDIA.

Nikam S.J*, Bhojane G.S. Nikam S.J*, Bhojane G.S.

Yawale M.J., Raut R.R.Yawale M.J., Raut R.R.

Objective :-Objective :-

reviewed enquiry of phytoindicators at molecular level as bioaccumulators for environmental protection

role in pollution prevention with mechanism role in pollution prevention with mechanism of action. action.

why we save valuable plants from utter destruction ?

Why ? TopicWhy ? Topic

-On both side of roads we see trees in series

-Why certain trees like Peepal, Bel, Pakur,

Bargad, Neem have been worshipped

from times immemorial ?

-plants that have ability to assess levels of pollution.

-serve as index of state of environmental of particular region.

-Shows acute injury with externally visible symptoms in presence of high toxic pollutants.

-indicative phenomena :-Bio-indicationBio-indication

Pollutant soaking plantsPollutant soaking plants

Retains toxic pollutants/metabolic products of Retains toxic pollutants/metabolic products of plant-pollutant interaction in their bodiesplant-pollutant interaction in their bodies

ScavengersScavengers

Pollution mitigator plantsPollution mitigator plants BioaccumulatorsBioaccumulators

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

SymptomsSymptomsChlorosis (yellowing/whitening of green plants tissues due to ↓ Chlorosis (yellowing/whitening of green plants tissues due to ↓ chlorophyll)chlorophyll)

Necrosis (death of cells/tissues by disease )Necrosis (death of cells/tissues by disease )

Deformities of plants organs & ultimately death.Deformities of plants organs & ultimately death.

Physiological Physiological changes

Low photosynthetic activity

Changes in cell sap pH & membrane permeability

Low growth rate & crop yield

Stimulation of respiration & irregularity in enzyme action.

Parameters to select good phytoindicators (in ecosystem)

1)Survival

2)Mortality

3)Pollutant uptake

Efficiency varies with ecotypes b’coz diff. in geographical & climatic conditions.

Relatively easy to understand by non-scientists & other users. Sensitive to manageable human activity. Relatively tightly linked in space & time to that activity. Easily & accurately measured, with a low error rate.

Ideal Properties of indicators:-Ideal Properties of indicators:-

Designed by TheTemplateMart.com

During uptake of essential nutrients through roots, absorbs metallic, non-metallic wastes, different toxic chemicals (PPCP), heavy metals (Cu ++,Zn++, Cd, Ag, Pb, Hg), inorganic biocides accumulated in stable plant parts (root/shoot)

PhytochelatinsPhytochelatins MetallothioneinsMetallothioneins

PhytoindicatorsPhytoindicators

sulphur containing polypeptides of low mol.wt.

How ?How ?

PhytochelatinsPhytochelatins-group of proteins that inducible when they are faced with heavy metal stress.

-Algae, Gymnosperms ,Monocots, Dicots

-Cysteine, Glycine, Glutamic acid

y-(GluCys)n-Gly conformation y-carboxylamide bond

PCs r no direct result of expression of metal tolerance gene

A product of biosynthetic pathway with glutathione ( detoxifying agent)

Cd ++

Ultra structure ofUltra structure of PhytochelatinsPhytochelatins

Fig.1-Phytochelatins bind to metal ions & transport oxidized metal to vacuoles for storage

MetallothioneinsMetallothioneins

-similar proteins to PCs with high no. of cysteine molecules in -similar proteins to PCs with high no. of cysteine molecules in proteinsproteins

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

low mol.wt.low mol.wt.

large fraction of cysteine residuelarge fraction of cysteine residue

-high metal content in metal- thiolate clusters-high metal content in metal- thiolate clusters

Cu ++

Ultra structure of MetallothioneinsUltra structure of Metallothioneins

Fig.2-Metallothioneins bind metal ions for transport to Fig.2-Metallothioneins bind metal ions for transport to deficient parts deficient parts

PlantsPlants

Heavy Metals

Phytochelatin Synthase

Glutathione substrate

PCs (Phytochelatins)

Continues untill all metals r complexed

e.g. Cd ++

++

Generalized Synthesis of PhytochelatinsGeneralized Synthesis of Phytochelatins

Glutamine & Cysteine

y-GluCys y-GluCys

Glutathione (GSH)Glutathione (GSH)

y-glutamylcysteiney-glutamylcysteine

Cd Cd ++++

VacuoleVacuole

Phytochelatin Phytochelatin synthase(Cad1)synthase(Cad1)

PCsPCs Cd Cd ++++++

↓ ↓ PC-Cd complexesPC-Cd complexes

++

↑↑CdS -PC complexes CdS -PC complexes

Glutathione synthaseGlutathione synthase

Cd Cd ++++

++

SulfidesSulfides

Air Purifiers/Pollutant Soaking PlantsAir Purifiers/Pollutant Soaking Plants

Peepal (Ficus rligiosa)

Bel (Aegle marmelos)

Neem (Azadirachta indica),

Amaranthus graecizans

Argemone mexicana

Boerhaavia diffusa

Weeds

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) Makhan katori (Ficus krishnae)

Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba )

AcknowledgementAcknowledgementThe authors expresses their sincere gratitude towards Respected

Mr. Dinesh Gandhi Sir

Mr. Rahul Akotkar Sir

Mr. Vijay Waghulkar Sir

for giving their valuable time for work.

Dipanjan Ghosh: Science Reporter; NISCAIR, (CSIR), Vol. 43, No.6, June 2006. Cobbett CS: Phytochelatins and their roles in heavy metal detoxification. Plant Physiol 123: (2000) 825−832 Clemens S: Molecular mechanisms of plant metal tolerance and homeostasis. Planta(2001) 212: 475−486

ReferencesReferences