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Evaluating the antioxidative defense response of selected indoor plants against benzene and formaldehyde

  • Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability
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Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and benzene are among the key contributors to indoor air pollution. The current situation of environmental pollution is alarming, especially indoor air pollution is becoming a challenge as affecting plants and humans. VOCs are known to adversely affect indoor plants by causing necrosis and chlorosis. In order to withstand these organic pollutants, plants are naturally equipped with an antioxidative defense system. The current research study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of formaldehyde and benzene on the antioxidative response of selected indoor C3 plants including Chlorophytum comosum, Dracaena mysore, and Ficus longifolia. After the combined application of different levels (0, 0; 2, 2; 2, 4; 4, 2; and 4, 4 ppm) of benzene and formaldehyde respectively, in an airtight glass chamber, the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were analyzed. Analysis of total phenolics showed a significant increase (10.72 mg GAE/g) in F. longifolia; C. comosum (9.20 mg GAE/g); and D. mysore (8.74 mg GAE/g) compared to their respective controls as 3.76, 5.39, and 6.07 mg GAE/g. Total flavonoids (724 µg/g) were reported in control plants of F. longifolia which were increased to 1545.72 µg/g from 724 µg/g (in control) followed by 322.66 µg/g in D. mysore (control having 167.11 µg/g). Total carotenoid content also increased in D. mysore (0.67 mg/g) followed by C. comosum (0.63 mg/g) in response to increasing the combined dose compared to their control plants having 0.62 and 0.24 mg/g content. The highest proline content was exhibited by D. mysore (3.66 μg/g) as compared to its respective control plant (1.54 μg/g) under a 4 ppm dose of benzene and formaldehyde. A significant increase in enzymatic antioxidants including total antioxidants (87.89%), catalase (59.21 U/mg of protein), and guaiacol peroxidase (52.16 U/mg of protein) was observed in the D. mysore plant under a combined dose of benzene (2 ppm) and formaldehyde (4 ppm) with respect to their controls. Although experimental indoor plants have been reported to metabolize indoor pollutants, the current findings indicate that the combined application of benzene and formaldehyde is also affecting the physiology of indoor plants as well.

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Acknowledgements

We are greatly thankful to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for providing funding to conduct the experiment through NRPU project #7073. The manuscript is a part of the MS thesis of Mr. Taimoor Khan.

Funding

Research funding was provided by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan through NRPU project #7073.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan

    Taimoor Khan, Shahid Masood Shah, Sabaz Ali Khan, Amjad Hassan, Abdul Rehman Khan, Hifza Imtiaz & Yasar Sajjad

  2. Department of Horticulture, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, 66000, Pakistan

    Gulzar Akhtar

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  1. Taimoor Khan
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  2. Shahid Masood Shah
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  3. Sabaz Ali Khan
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  4. Amjad Hassan
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  5. Abdul Rehman Khan
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  6. Gulzar Akhtar
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  7. Hifza Imtiaz
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  8. Yasar Sajjad
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Contributions

Taimoor Khan conducted the research and helped with the article write-up. Yasar Sajjad designed and supervised the study and performed data analysis. Hifza Imtiaz and Gulzar Akhtar prepared the first draft. Amjad Hassan and Sabaz Ali Khan reviewed and corrected the first draft. Abdul Rehman Khan and Shahid Masood Shah helped in the execution of the experiments.

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Correspondence to Yasar Sajjad.

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Khan, T., Shah, S.M., Khan, S.A. et al. Evaluating the antioxidative defense response of selected indoor plants against benzene and formaldehyde. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 99273–99283 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28166-9

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