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Effect of esculetin on activities of pumpkin glutathione S-transferases and growth of pumpkin seedlings

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The effect of esculetin and some related coumarins (coumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin and scopoletin) on growth of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) seedlings and the activities of pumpkin glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) were investigated. Coumarin and esculetin affected the growth of seedlings. The hypocotyls of affected seedlings became weak and bent at the mid region, roots became very soft with brownish discoloration, and finally seedlings died. Among the compounds tested, only esculetin inhibited CmGSTU3 and CmGSTU2 activities measured with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and at a concentration of 22 µM, it inhibited the activity of CmGSTU3 by 50 %.

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Abbreviations

CDNB:

1-chloro-2,4- dinitrobenzene

GSH:

glutathione

GST:

glutathione S-transferase

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Hossain, M.D., Fujita, M. Effect of esculetin on activities of pumpkin glutathione S-transferases and growth of pumpkin seedlings. Biol Plant 53, 565–568 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-009-0102-3

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