U(VI) Adsorption onto Low Dose Radiation Acclimated Tradescantia Fluminensis

The plants that long-term grown in radiation area could be acclimated by low dose radiation (LDR). In this paper, LDR acclimated Tradescantia fluminensis (Commelinaceae) was first collected as a biomass adsorbent towards uranium adsorption. Comparative experiments verified the potential radiation effects of LDR acclimation, moreover, qe values of the wild and LDR acclimated Tradescantia fluminensis were ~16 mg/g and 20 mg/g, respectively. U(VI) adsorption amount gradually reached equilibrium after 180 min shaking, and the adsorption process described well by the pseudo-second-order model. However, ionic strength has no obvious effect on the qe values. SEM and TG-DSC suggested good structural stability of LDR acclimated Tradescantia fluminensis during the U(VI) adsorption process. FTIR and XPS verfied the surface coordination of U(VI) via -OH and -COOH groups on LDR acclimated Tradescantia fluminensis surface, and the increasing amounts of the two groups could account for the improved U(VI) adsorption capacity compared to the wild Tradescantia fluminensis. Our present work can indicate that LDR acclimation could be a novel way to obtain biomass adsorbents for U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions.

Allicin From Garlic Disrupts the Cytoskeleton in Plants

Allicin is a defence substance produced by garlic cells upon injury. It is a thiosulfinate showing redox-activity and a broad range of antimicrobial and biocidal activity. It is known that allicin efficiently oxidizes thiol-groups and it has been described as a redox toxin. In order to learn more about the effect of allicin on plants we used pure synthetized allicin, and investigated cytoplasmic streaming in sterile filaments of Tradescantia fluminensis, organelle movement using transgenic Arabidopsis with organelle-specifics GFP-tags, and effects on actin and tubulin in the cytoskeleton using GFP-tagged lines. Auxin distribution in roots was investigated using PIN1:GFP, PIN3:GFP, DR5:GFP and DII-VENUS Arabidopsis reporter lines.Allicin inhibited cytoplasmic streaming in T. fluminensis and organelle movement of peroxisomes and the Golgi apparatus in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibited root growth and destroyed the correct root tip distribution of auxin.We speculate that the cytoskeleton can be a primary “receptor” for allicin’s oxidizing properties and as a consequence cytoskeleton-dependent cellular processes are disrupted.

Rehabilitación de las riberas de un sitio de la cuenca baja del río Matanza-Riachuelo

La vegetación ribereña desempeña un rol importante en el control de fuentes no puntuales de contaminación y contribuye a la consiguiente mejora de la calidad del agua de ríos y arroyos. El río Matanza-Riachuelo ha sido clasificado como uno de los más contaminados del mundo, registrándose concentraciones elevadas de metales y otros contaminantes en la columna de agua y en los sedimentos de sus riberas. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en realizar una caracterización física, química y florística y poner a prueba una intervención para la rehabilitación ecológica en un área piloto de la ribera del río Matanza-Riachuelo. Se determinaron cromo, cadmio, níquel, zinc, cobre y plomo en muestras de sedimentos ribereños y en muestras de las herbáceas Sagittaria montevidensis y Tradescantia fluminensis. Los suelos presentaron muy alto grado de contaminación, fundamentalmente debido a los elevados valores de cromo, cobre y zinc. Ambas herbáceas toleraron la variación del nivel del agua y acumularon metales, principalmente en sus estructuras subterráneas. Estas características indicaron que S. montevidensis y T. fluminensis podían ser utilizadas en intervenciones para la rehabilitación de riberas. La rehabilitación consistió en la plantación directa de 45 ejemplares de árboles y arbustos nativos con tolerancia al estrés ambiental (Erythrina crista-galli, Senna corymbosa, Solanum granulosum-leprosum, Allophylus edulis, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Salix humboldtiana, Lantana camara, Cestrum parqui y Sesbania punicea); en la línea de costa se instalaron 66 biorrollos para la implantación de las helófitas nativas: Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Tripogandra diuretica, T. fluminensis, Schoenoplectus californicus, S. montevidensis y Echinodorus grandiflorus. El monitoreo posterior demostró que los árboles y arbustos toleraron tanto los niveles de contaminación de los suelos como el prolongado periodo de inundación. La implantación de macrófitas S. californicus, S. montevidensis y E. grandiflorus mediante la técnica de biorrollos fue una alternativa eficaz pero los helófitos rastreros: H. bonariensis, T. fluminensis y T. diuretica resultaron afectados fundamentalmente por el depósito de basura flotante.

Pharmacognostic study of tradescantia fluminensis vell. Leaves

Tradescantia fluminensis Vell (Family: Commelinaceae) is an ornamental plant used traditionally to improve the kidney function, as an analgesic and for wound healing. The leaves are reported to possess significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and lipoxygenase inhibition properties. Thus far, the pharmacognostic study of the leaves of T. fluminensis has not yet been reported in the literature. The present paper deals with the establishment of standardization parameters through the pharmacognostic study of leaves. Pharmacognostical study included macroscopic and microscopic characters of the leaves. Physicochemical parameters like ash value and extractive values were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening of various leaf extracts were studied. The macroscopic characters demonstrated simple, entire margin, parallel venation, and alternate phyllotaxis. Microscopic studies revealed the presence of bulliform cells, calcium oxalate crystals, and uniseriate covering trichomes. Conjoint and collateral vascular bundles arranged in a parallel series are seen. Powder microscopic studies showed the presence of paracytic stomata, fragments of mesophyll, fragments of epidermal cells showing palisade cells beneath them, non-lignified phloem fibers, covering trichomes and crystals of calcium oxalate. Preliminary phytochemical studies showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and steroids in the leaves. Fluorescence analysis showed typical coloured fluorescence when the extracts were examined under UV light. The study could serve as a basis of establishing pharmacognostic standards for T. fluminensis and help in differentiating from other related species. Further, it will help to authenticate and identify adulteration in the plant material. The diagnostic microscopic characters and physicochemical data will be helpful in the development of the herbal monograph for the species.