Biochemical Responses of Medicinal Plant Tussilago farfara L. to Elevated Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soils of Urban Areas

This study was conducted in Tyumen (Russian Federation) to establish the effects of heavy metals’ (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Cd) accumulation in soil and coltsfoot, as well as plants’ biochemical responses to such an accumulation. The mobile and acid-soluble heavy metal fractions in soils, and the heavy metal contents in plants, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Pb concentrations in soils exceeded background values. Pb content at the battery manufacturing plant was above the maximum permitted concentration. The percentages of the mobile heavy metal fractions decreased in the following order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe. The greatest heavy metal accumulation in soils and plants was found at the battery manufacturing and metallurgical plants examined in our study. Heavy metals’ accumulation in the aboveground part of Tussilago farfara decreased in the following order: Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Pb > Cd. The accumulation of heavy metals stimulated the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments by 6–30%. Heavy metals provoked oxidative stress in cells, increasing the concentration of lipid peroxidation in products by up to 80%. Plant phenolics and flavonoids in the urban area of our study decreased compared to those in the control by 1.05, reaching up to 6.5 times. The change in coltsfoot catalase activity both increased and declined. Biochemical responses and heavy metal accumulation in coltsfoot from urban areas limit its use for medicinal purposes.

ВИДОВИЙ СКЛАД ТА СТАН ПОПУЛЯЦІЙ ЛІКАРСЬКИХ РОСЛИН НА ТЕРИТО-РІЇ ЛУГАНСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ

Наведено результати дослі-дження фітоценозів Луганської області з метою встановлення видового складу лікарських рослин та стану популяцій. Ідентифіковано 304 види. Малочисельними популяціями харак-теризувалися на луках Dracocephalum triflorum L., Stachys palustris L., Tussilago farfara L., Rhaponticum serratuloides (Georgi) Bobrov, Bidens tripartitа L.; на лісових галявинах – Platan-thera bifolia (L.) Rich., Veronica officinalis L., Symphytum officinale L., Vincetoxicum albovianum (Kusn.) Pobed., Hypericum perforatum L., Polygonatum officinale All., Hierochloe odorata Wahid; по берегах водойм – Acorus calamus L., Stratiotes aloides L., Gratiola officinalis L., Iris pseudacorus L.Викликає занепокоєння малочисельність таких видів лікарських рослин, як Veronica officinalis, Iris pseudacorus, Symphytum officinale, Tussilago farfara, які потребують збереження та відтворення.

SADRŽAJ METALA U ZEMLJIŠTU I ODABRANIM BILJKAMA NA JALOVIŠTU FLOTACIJE RUDNIK DOO „RUDNIK"

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of some metals (Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd) in the soil and species of Tussilago farfara L. and Clematis vitalba L. on the tailings and flotation of the mine DOO "Rudnik". Concentrations in the soil were: Pb and Cu - higher than the maximum allowed, limit and remediation values; Cd, Cr and Ni - higher than the maximum allowed and limit values, and Zn higher than the limit values (according to the regulations of the Republic of Serbia). Better bioaccumulation of all tested metals was shown by T. farfara species, especially leaves for Zn. The results indicate the possible use of aboveground parts of both plant species in the revitalization of tailings by bioaccumulation of tested metals.