Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological and antioxidant responses of Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) to salt stress

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mentha pulegium L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant belonging to the Labiatae family present in the humid to the arid bioclimatic regions of Tunisia. We studied the effect of different salt concentrations on plant growth, mineral composition and antioxidant responses. Physiological and biochemical parameters were assessed in the plant organs after 2 weeks of salt treatment with 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM NaCl. Results showed that, growth was reduced even by 25 mM, and salt effect was more pronounced in shoots (leaves and stems) than in roots. This growth decrease was accompanied by a restriction in tissue hydration and K+ uptake, as well as an increase in Na+ levels in all organs. Considering the response of antioxidant enzymes to salt, leaves and roots reacted differently to saline conditions. Leaf and root guaiacol peroxidase activity showed an increase by different concentration of NaCl, but superoxide dismutase activity in the same organs showed a slight modification in NaCl-treated leaves and roots. Moreover, polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity were analysed in M. pulegium leaves and roots under salt constraint. The analysis showed an increase of total polyphenol content (2.41–8.17 mg gallic acid equivalent g−1 dry weight) in leaves. However, methanol extract of leaves at 100 mM NaCl displayed the highest DPPH· scavenging ability with the lowest IC50 value (0.27 μg ml−1) in comparison with control which exhibited IC50 equal to 0.79 μg ml−1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

AMP:

Aromatic and medicinal plants

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

DW:

Dry weight

FW:

Fresh weight

RGR:

Relative growth rate

PAR:

Photosynthetic active radiations

DPPH:

2,2′-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

GAE:

Gallic acid equivalent

References

  • Able AJ, Sutherland MW, Guest DI (2003) Production of reactive oxygen species during non-specific elicitation non-host resistance and field resistance expression in cultures of tobacco cells. Funct Plant Biol 30:91–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asada K (1994) Production and action of active oxygen species in photosynthetic tissues. In: Foyer CH, Mullineauxs PM (eds) Causes of photooxidative stress and amelioration of defense system in plant. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 77–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashraf M, Orooj A (2006) Salt stress effect on growth, ion accumulation, and seed oil concentration in an arid zone traditional medicinal plant ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.). J Arid Environ 64:209–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attia H, Arnaud N, Karray N, Lachaal M (2008) Long-term effects of mild salt stress on growth, ion accumulation and superoxide dismutase expressing of Arabidopsis rosette leaves. Physiol Plant 132:293–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Awika JM, Rooney LW, Wu X, Prior RL, Zevallos LC (2003) Screening methods to measure antioxidant activity of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and sorghum products. J Agric Food Chem 51:6657–6662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azevedo Neto AD, Prisco JT, Eneas FJ, Lacerda CF, Silva JV, Costa PHA, Gomes FE (2004) Effects of salt stress on plant growth, stomatal response and solute accumulation of different maize genotype. Braz J Plant Physiol 6:31–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp C, Fridovich I (1971) Superoxide dismutase improved assays and applicable to acrylamide gels. Anal Biochem 44:276–287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell EA, Charlwood BV (1980) Secondary plant products. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 229–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourgou S, Ksouri R, Bellila A, Skandarani I, Falleh H, Marzouk B (2008) Phenolic composition and biological activities of Tunisian Nigella sativa L. shoots and roots. C R Biol 331:48–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein–dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Candan N, Tarhan L (2003) The correlation between antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels in Mentha pulegium organs grown in Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ stress conditions. Plant Sci 165:769–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalcanti BC, Costa-Lotufo LV, Moraes MO, Burbano RR, Silveira ER, Cunha KM, Rao VS, Moura DJ, Rosa RM, Henriques JA, Pessoa C (2006) Genotoxicity evaluation of kaurenoic acid, a bioactive diterpenoid present in Copaiba oil. Food Chem Toxicol 44(3):388–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewanto V, Wu X, Adom KK, Liu RH (2002) Thermal processing enhances the nutritional value of tomatoes by increasing total antioxidant activity. J Agric Food Chem 50:3010–3014

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gosset DR, Millhollon EP, Lucas MC (1994) Antioxidant response to NaCl stress in salt-tolerant and salt sensitive cultivars of cotton. Crop Sci 34:706–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanato T, Kagawa H, Yasuhara T, Okuda T (1988) Two new flavonoids and other constituents in licorice root: their relative astringency and radical scavenging effect. Chem Pharm Bull 36:1090–1097

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa PH, Bressan RA, Zhu JK, Bohnert HJ (2000) Plant cellular and molecular responses to high salinity. Plant Mol Biol 51:463–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland DR, Arnon DI (1950) The water culture method for growing plants without soil. (Circ 347). Calif Agric Exp. Sta, Berkley, CA, pp 32

  • Hunt R (1978) (ed) Plant growth curves: an introduction to the functional approach to the plant growth analysis. Edward Arnold, London

  • Karray-Bouraoui N, Ksouri R, Falleh H, Rabhi M, Grignon C, Lachaal M (2009) Effects of environment and development stage on phenolic content and antioxidant activities of Tunisian Mentha pulegium L. J Food Biochem (in press)

  • Khan MA, Ungar IA, Showalter AM (2000) The effect of salinity on the growth, water status, and ion content of a leaf succulent perennial halophyte (Suadea fruticosa). J Arid Environ 45:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ksouri R, Megdiche W, Debez A, Falleh H, Grignon C, Abdelly C (2007) Salinity effects on polyphenol content and antioxidant activities in leaves of the halophyte Cakile maritima. Plant Physiol Biochem 45:244–249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lechno S, Zamski E, Telor E (1997) Salt stress induced responses in cucumber plants. J Plant Physiol 150:206–211

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee DH, Young SK, Lee CB (2001) The inductive responses of the antioxidant enzymes by salt stress in the rice (Oryza sativa L.). J Plant Physiol 158:737–745

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JC, Lee KY, Kim J, Na CS, Jung NC, Chung GH, Jang YS (2004) Extract from Rhus verniciflua stokes is capable of inhibiting the growth of human lymphoma cells. Food Chem Toxicol 42(9):1383–1388

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Locy RD, Chang CC, Neilson BL, Singh NK (1996) Photosynthesis in salt-adapted heterotrophic tobacco cells and regenerated plants. J Plant Physiol 110:321–328

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu YR, Yeap Foo L (2001) Antioxidant activities of polyphenols from sage (Salvia officinalis). Food Chem 75:197–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M’rah S, Ouerghi Z, Berthomieu C, Havaux M, Jungas C, Hajji M, Grignon C, Lachaal M (2006) Effects of NaCl on the growth, ion accumulation and photosynthetic parameters of Thellungiella halophila. J Plant Physiol 163:1022–1031

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Meloni DA, Oliva MA, Martinez CA, Cambria J (2002) Photosynthesis and activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase in cotton under salt stress. Environ Exp Bot 49:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meneguzzo S, Navari-Izzo F, Izzo R (1998) Antioxidants responses of shoots and roots of wheat to increasing NaCl concentrations. J Plant Physiol 155:274–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Mezni M, Albouchi A, Bizid E, Hamza M (2002) Effet de la salinité des eaux d’irrigation sur la nutrition minérale chez trois variétés de Luzerne pérenne (Medicago sativa). Agronomie 22:283–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano Y, Asada K (1981) Hydrogen peroxide in scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidise in spinach chloroplast. Plant Cell Physiol 22:867–880

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navari-Izzo F, Quartacci MF, Pinzino C, Dalla vecchia F, Sgherri CLM (1998) Thylakoid-bound and stromal antioxidative enzymes in wheat treated with excess copper. Physiol Plant 104:630–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navaro JM, Flores P, Garrido C, Martinez V (2006) Changes in the contents of antioxidants compounds in pepper fruits at different ripening stages, as affected by salinity. Food Chem 96:66–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Porto CD, Calligaris S, Celloti E, Nicoli MC (2000) Antiradical properties of commercial cognacs assessed by the DPPH test. J Agric Food Chem 48:4241–4245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiyab S, Shibli R, Mohammad M (2003) Influence of sodium chloride salt stress on growth and nutrient acquisition of sour orange in vitro. J Plant Nutr 26(5):985–996

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singleton VL, Rosi JA (1965) Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic–phosphotungstic acid reagents. Am J Oenol Vitic 16:144–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tester M, Davenport R (2003) Na+ tolerance and Na+ transport in higher plants. Ann Bot 91:503–527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong L, Schumaker KS, Zhu JK (2002) Cell signaling during cold, drought, and salt stress. Plant Cell (Supplemental 2002):165–183

  • Zheng Z, Sheth U, Nadiga M, Pinkham JL, Shetty K (2001) A model for the role of the proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway in polymeric dye tolerance in oregano. Proc Biochem 36:941–946

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Physiologie et Biochimie de la Tolérance au sel des Plantes, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, 1060, Tunis, Tunisia

    Samia Oueslati, Najoua Karray-Bouraoui, Houneïda Attia & Mokhtar Lachaal

  2. Laboratoire d’Adaptation des Plantes aux Stress Abiotiques, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cédria, Technopole de Borj-Cédria, BP 901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Mokded Rabhi & Riadh Ksouri

Authors
  1. Samia Oueslati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Najoua Karray-Bouraoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Houneïda Attia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mokded Rabhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Riadh Ksouri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mokhtar Lachaal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samia Oueslati.

Additional information

Communicated by G. Bartosz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oueslati, S., Karray-Bouraoui, N., Attia, H. et al. Physiological and antioxidant responses of Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) to salt stress. Acta Physiol Plant 32, 289–296 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-009-0406-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-009-0406-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation