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Heavy metal-induced oxidative damage is reduced by β-estradiol application in lentil seedlings

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Abstract

The protective effect of β-estradiol (E) application against heavy metal (HM) toxicity in lentil (Lens culinaris) seedlings was investigated. Seeds were treated with distilled water (control) or aqueous solutions of 100 μM CdCl2, 200 μM CuCl2 and 1 μM E singly or in combinations (1 μM E+100 μM CdCl2 and 1 μM E+200 μM CuCl2). HM treatments resulted in increase in the activities of antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaicol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. In a similar manner, Cd and Cu affected significantly oxidative injury indicators measured as electrolyte leakage (electrical conductivity of germination medium), lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and contents of malondialdehyde (MDA; lipoperoxidation marker), carbonyl groups (protein oxidation marker) and hydrogen peroxide (a reactive oxygen species). However, E was effective in reducing HM-induced toxicity. The steroid (1) alleviated HM-induced increase in the electrolyte leakage, LOX activity and contents of MDA, carbonyl and H2O2 and (2) improved the activities of SOD and CAT, but not the peroxidase ones, as compared to treatments with HM singly. In addition, E application prevented HM-induced decrease in dry weight production, but did not reduce the accumulation of Cd and Cu in tissues. Results of the present study suggest that E is able to protect lentil from HM-induced oxidative damage most likely by avoidance of H2O2 generation and improving antioxidative enzyme activities and, thereby, decreasing oxidative stress injury, but not by reducing Cd and Cu uptake.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

DNPH:

Dinitrophenylhydrazine

E:

β-Estradiol

GPOX:

Guaicol peroxidase

HM:

Heavy metal

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MSH:

Mammalian sex hormones

ROS:

Reactive oxygen specie

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this work was received from the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (UR11ES32).

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  1. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia

    Abdelilah Chaoui & Ezzedine El Ferjani

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  1. Abdelilah Chaoui
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  2. Ezzedine El Ferjani
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Correspondence to Abdelilah Chaoui.

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Chaoui, A., El Ferjani, E. Heavy metal-induced oxidative damage is reduced by β-estradiol application in lentil seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 74, 1–9 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-014-9891-2

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