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Protective role of nitric oxide against arsenic-induced damages in germinating mung bean seeds

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive gaseous, multifunctional molecule playing a central role and mediating a variety of physiological processes and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses including heavy metals. The present study investigated whether NO applied exogenously as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) has a protective role against arsenic (As) toxicity (applied as sodium arsenate) in Vigna radiata (mung bean) germinating seeds. Treatment with 75 μM SNP significantly improved mung bean seed germination, growth, and decreased the As-accumulation. Furthermore, As-induced oxidative stress measured in terms of malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents was lesser upon supplementation of SNP indicating a reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of NO. In addition, supplementation of SNP markedly decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase and stimulated catalase, α-amylase, protease and slightly changed the H+-ATPase activity.

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  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511, Egypt

    Ghada Saber M. Ismail

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Correspondence to Ghada Saber M. Ismail.

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Communicated by S. Weidner.

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Ismail, G.S.M. Protective role of nitric oxide against arsenic-induced damages in germinating mung bean seeds. Acta Physiol Plant 34, 1303–1311 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-0927-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-012-0927-9

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