Vanadium Toxicity Induced Changes in Growth, Antioxidant Profiling, and Vanadium Uptake in Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Seedlings

Heavy metal contamination is one of the current serious environmental and agricultural soil issues, and it is mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Vanadium (V) is found in low concentrations in a wide range of plants and is widely distributed in soils. The current study aimed to determine how pepper seedlings responded to various V concentrations, as well as the detrimental effects of V on growth, root morphological traits, photosynthetic performance, reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmolytes production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and V uptake. Pepper seedlings (5 weeks old) were grown in hydroponic culture with six V levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg L−1 NH4VO3). After two weeks of V treatment, low level of V (10, 20 mg L−1) enhanced the growth status, conversely higher V (30, 40, and 50 mg L−1) level reduced the growth. The leaf gas exchange elements, pigments molecules, and root growth characteristics are also affected by higher V concentrations. Moreover, V uptake was higher in roots than in the shoot of pepper seedlings. Similarly, osmolytes content, ROS production, and antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly improved under V stress. Concluding, lower V (10, 20 mg L−1) concentration positively affected pepper growth, and higher V (30, 40, and 50 mg L−1) concentration had a detrimental effect on pepper physiological and biochemical mechanisms.

Protective Effects of Dietary Antioxidants against Vanadium-Induced Toxicity: A Review

Vanadium (V) in its inorganic forms is a toxic metal and a potent environmental and occupational pollutant and has been reported to induce toxic effects in animals and people. In vivo and in vitro data show that high levels of reactive oxygen species are often implicated in vanadium deleterious effects. Since many dietary (exogenous) antioxidants are known to upregulate the intrinsic antioxidant system and ameliorate oxidative stress-related disorders, this review evaluates their effectiveness in the treatment of vanadium-induced toxicity. Collected data, mostly from animal studies, suggest that dietary antioxidants including ascorbic acid, vitamin E, polyphenols, phytosterols, and extracts from medicinal plants can bring a beneficial effect in vanadium toxicity. These findings show potential preventive effects of dietary antioxidants on vanadium-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, neurotoxicity, testicular toxicity, and kidney damage. The relevant mechanistic insights of these events are discussed. In summary, the results of studies on the role of dietary antioxidants in vanadium toxicology appear encouraging enough to merit further investigations.

The toxicity of vanadium on gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive system, and its influence on fertility and fetuses malformations

Vanadium is a transition metal that has a unique and beneficial effect on both humans and animals. For many years, studies have suggested that vanadium is an essential trace element. Its biological properties are of interest due to its therapeutic potential, including in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Vanadium deficiencies can lead to a range of pathologies. However, excessive concentration of this metal can cause irreversible damage to various tissues and organs. Vanadium toxicity mainly manifests in gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and weight reduction. Vanadium also exhibits hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic properties, including glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. Vanadium compounds may also lead to partial degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium of the seminiferous tubules in the testes and can affect male fertility. This paper describes the harmful effects of vanadium on the morphology and physiology of both animal and human tissues, including the digestive system, the urinary tract, and the reproductive system. What is more, the following study includes data concerning the correlation between the above-mentioned metal and its influence on fertility and fetus malformations. Additionally, this research identifies the doses of vanadium which lead to pathological alterations becoming visible within tissues. Moreover, this study includes information about the protective efficacy of some substances in view of the toxicity of vanadium.