Antioxidative Responses of Microalgae to Heavy Metals

AbstractMicroalgae are unicellular free living entities and therefore their responses to excess of heavy metals must be faster and more efficient than those in vascular plants protected by various types of tissues. Up to date, numerous studies reported metal bioaccumulation potential of algae but metabolic responses have relatively rarely been monitored. Here I provide basic overview of quantitative changes of ascorbic acid (AA), reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs) and selected related enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) in some common microalgae exposed to various metals (cadmium mainly). Despite various culture and exposure conditions, some common signs of metal toxicity (including e.g. enhancement of phytochelatin biosynthesis) are clearly identifiable in algae. Other metal chelators such as organic acids are also briefly mentioned. Comparison with macroalgae, mosses and vascular plants is discussed in terms of basal values and evolutionary similarities.

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Effect of Exposure to Mixture of Heavy Metals Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead on Reproductive Function and Oxidative Stress in Female Rats

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH ◽

10.25258/ijtpr.v9i03.9075 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Choudhuri D. ◽

Bhattacharjee T.

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Heavy Metals ◽

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Reproductive Function ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Female Rats ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Oestrus Cycle ◽

Implantation Sites ◽

Live Fetus

Background : Toxicological consequences arising from exposure to mixtures of heavy metals especially at low, chronic and environmentally relevant doses are poorly recognised. In the present study, we evaluated effects of chronic exposure to combinations of three metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) present frequently in drinking water on reproductive function and oxidative damage caused to reproductive organs of female rats. Method : Female rats were exposed to mixture of metals (As, Cdand Pb) for 90 consecutive days. The gain in body weight and weight of reproductive organs were recorded following autopsy on 91 stday. The oestrus cycle were monitored during entire treatment period. Numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites, live fetus and survival of the fetus were evaluated in rats mated successfully with untreated male after completion of their respective treatment. Ovarian cholesterol, protein, ascorbic acid and enzyme Δ 5 -3β HSD levels were estimated. Serum levels of steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone were estimated. Histopathological picture of both ovary and uterus were assessed. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidise (GPX) activity, amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondyaldehyde (MDA) in blood, ovary and uterus were measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Results : The treated rats showed reduced body weight gain and reduction in the weight of ovary and uterus. Oestrus cycle was disrupted with continuous diestrous in treated animals. Number of corpora lutea, implantation sites and live fetus and the survival of fetus evaluate were reduced significantly in treated groups. The levels of ovarian cholesterol and ascorbic acid increased in treated rats with decrease Δ5 -3β HSD level. There was reduction in serum level of both the ovarian steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone. The protein levels did not differ between the groups. There was a significant increase in levels of MDA and decrease in levels of all the antioxidant enzymes in treated group. Conclusion : The results revealed there was disruption to reproductive functions with decrease in stereoidogenic activity and associated oxidative stress in female rats treated with combination of mixture of metals (Cd, As and Pb) at low dose for 90 consecutive days.

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Inhibition of methanogenesis in pure cultures by ammonia, fatty acids, and heavy metals, and protection against heavy metal toxicity by sewage sludge

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m87-093 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 551-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Ken F. Jarrell ◽

Michelle Saulnier ◽

Art Ley

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Metal Toxicity ◽

Heavy Metal Toxicity ◽

Methanosarcina Barkeri ◽

Methanospirillum Hungatei ◽

Nickel Zinc ◽

Pure Cultures

The effect of ammonium chloride, sodium butyrate, sodium propionate, and the heavy metals nickel, zinc, and copper on methanogenesis by pure cultures of Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, and Methanobacterium formicicum at pH 6.5 was studied. The latter three strains were resistant to > 60 g/L of the volatile fatty acids and to > 10 g/L of NH3 N. Methanospirillum hungatei was somewhat more sensitive with 50% inhibition of methanogenesis occurring at 4.2 g/L NH3 N, 27 g/L butyrate, and 41 g/L propionate. All strains were very sensitive to both copper (1–5 mg/L) and zinc (1–10 mg/L), but much more resistant to nickel. Zinc and copper concentrations 30 to 270 times higher were required to cause inhibition of Msp. hungatei incubated in sewage sludge compared with buffer, indicating a strong protective environment was afforded the methanogens against heavy metal toxicity in the sludge.

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Ecological Features of Spontaneous Vascular Flora of Serpentine Post-Mining Sites in Lower Silesia

Archives of Environmental Protection ◽

10.2478/aep-2014-0014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 33-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dorota Kasowska ◽

Anna Koszelnik-Leszek

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Seed Dispersal ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Mining Waste ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Ecological Features ◽

Waste Dumps ◽

Trophic Preferences ◽

Study Sites ◽

Lower Silesia

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the ecological characteristics of vascular plants colonizing serpentine mining waste dumps and quarries in Lower Silesia. The investigated flora was analyzed with regard to species composition, geographical-historical status, life forms, as well as selected ecological factors, such as light and trophic preferences, soil moisture and reaction, value of resistance to increased heavy metals content in the soil, seed dispersal modes and occurrence of mycorrhiza. There were 113 species of vascular plants, belonging to 28 families, found on seven sites in the study. The most numerous families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Caryophyllaceae. Only 13% of all plants recorded occurred on at least five of the study sites. The most numerous were species related to dry grassland communities, particularly of the Festuco-Brometea class, which included taxa endangered in the region of Lower Silesia: Avenula pratensis, Salvia pratensis, Festuca valesiaca. Apophytes dominated in the flora of the investigated communities. Hemicryptophytes were the most numerous group and therophytes were also abundant. The serpentine mining waste dumps and querries hosted heliophilous species which prefer mesic or dry habitats moderately poor in nutrients, featuring neutral soil reaction. On two study sites 30% of the flora composition consisted of species that tolerate an increased content of heavy metals in the soil. Anemochoric species were the most numerous with regard to types of seed dispersal. Species with an arbuscular type of mycorrhiza were definitely dominant in the flora of all the study sites, however, the number of nonmycorrhizal species was also relatively high. It was suggested that both the specific characteristics of the habitats from serpentine mining and the vegetation of adjacent areas had a major impact on the flora composition of the communities in the investigated sites.

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Features of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Vascular Plants

Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants in the Environment ◽

10.1201/9781315366029-10 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 193-214

Author(s):

Tatyana l. Egoshina ◽

Lyudmila N. Shikhova ◽

Eugene M. Lisitsyn

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Heavy Metals Accumulation ◽

Metals Accumulation

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Bioactive Compounds, Vitamins and Minerals Composition of Freeze-dried Grewia asiatica L. (Phalsa) Pulp and Seed Powder

Asian Journal of Dairy and Food Research ◽

10.18805/ajdfr.dr-1474 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Kiran Bala ◽

Aradhita Barmanray

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Functional Foods ◽

Total Phenols ◽

Total Anthocyanin ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

Total Anthocyanins ◽

Β Carotene

Present study was directed to analyze and compare the bioactive compounds (total phenols, total anthocyanins), vitamins (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, vitamin A), minerals including Ca, Mg, Na, P, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Mn and heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb) of freeze-dried (lyophilized) phalsa pulp and seed powder. In lyophilized pulp powder (LPP) higher amount of total phenols (78.11 mg/100g), total anthocyanin (82.94 mg/100g), ascorbic acid (5.21 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.54 µg/100g), vitamin A (0.89 I.U.) were observed than lyophilized seed powder (LSP). Na, K, Mg and Co (0.41, 0.39, 1.08, 0.46 mg/100g, respectively) were higher in LPP as compared to LSP (0.29, 0.11, 0.76 and 0.40 mg/100g, respectively) whereas, Ca, P and Cu were detected more in LSP. This study opens the prospect of using dry phalsa powder in the preparation of various nutraceutical and functional foods for their therapeutic as well as prophylactic purposes.

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Renal toxicity of heavy metals (cadmium and mercury) and their amelioration with ascorbic acid in rabbits

Revista Intertox de Toxicologia Risco Ambiental e Sociedade ◽

10.22280/revintervol12ed2.447 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Jhone Robson Da Silva Costa

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Renal Toxicity

resenha Os metais pesados representam um grande risco para o meio ambiente e também a saúde humana, tendo em vista que eles manifestam toxicidades particulares com diferentes graus morbidade. Nesse sentido, a busca por substâncias capazes de diminuir ou prevenir os danos provocados por esses metais, tornam-se essenciais e muito importantes. Diante desse cenário, destaca-se o ácido ascórbico, objeto de estudo deste trabalho que buscou avaliar os efeitos toxicológicos do cloreto de cádmio, cloreto mercúrio e sua co-administração com vitamina C em parâmetros bioquímicos de bioacumulação em coelhos.

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Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Spartina

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp12271 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 40 (9) ◽

pp. 913 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Susana Redondo-Gómez

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Atlantic Ocean ◽

Vascular System ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Metal Chelation ◽

Metal Bioaccumulation ◽

Spartina Densiflora ◽

North West ◽

The Family ◽

Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation

The Spartina Schreb. genus is composed of C4 perennial grasses in the family Poaceae. They are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, north-west and southern Africa, the Americas and the southern Atlantic Ocean islands. Most species are salt tolerant and colonise coastal or inland saltmarshes. The available literature on heavy metal bioaccumulation by Spartina sp. was compiled and compared. Spartina alterniflora Loisel. and Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald were the most commonly researched species of the genus, whereas many species were not represented at all. In contrast, Cu and Zn are the most intensively researched heavy metals. The few studies dealing with the physiological impacts of heavy metals or the mechanisms of metal accumulation, which involve extracellular and intracellular metal chelation, precipitation, compartmentalisation and translocation in the vascular system, were documented. Bioaccumulation of metals in roots and tillers of some species of the Spartina genus (e.g. S. maritima and Spartina densiflora Brongn.) has been described as a feasible method for remediating waters and soils contaminated with heavy metals. One such example is Spartina argentinensis Parodi, which has been found to be a Cr-hyperaccumulator; it can concentrate chromium in its tissues to levels far exceeding those present in the soil.

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Tolerance of Microorganisms to Heavy Metals

Recent Advancements in Bioremediation of Metal Contaminants - Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-4888-2.ch002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 19-35

Author(s):

Joan Mwihaki Nyika

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Pollution ◽

Heavy Metal Pollution ◽

Metal Toxicity ◽

Environmental Concern ◽

Volume Ratio ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bioremediation Processes

Heavy metal pollution is a growing environmental concern due to the increase in anthropogenic-based sources. Microorganisms have high adsorptive capacities and surface-area-to-volume ratio that enable the uptake of these contaminants and their conversion to innocuous complexes in the process of bioremediation. This chapter explores the mechanisms and specific microorganisms that are resistant to metal toxicity. A wide range of bacterial, algae, and fungal species used as biosorbents are highlighted. Mechanisms such as reduction of metal cations, their sequestration, and binding on cell barriers are discussed. To optimise the efficacy of microorganisms in bioremediation processes, adoption of genetic and nano-technologies is recommended.

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