Effect of Lead stress on phosphatase activity and reducing power assay of Triticum aestivum.

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic heavy metal for both plants and animals; the environment is increasingly polluted with heavy metals and reduces crop productivity. Plants possess homeostatic mechanisms that allow them to keep correct concentrations of essential metal ions in cellular compartments and to minimize the damaging effects of an excess of nonessential ones. One of their adverse effects on plants are the generation of harmful active oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress and the antioxidative activity seems to be of fundamental importance for adaptive response of plant against environmental stress. The present study explores the effects of lead (soil treated twice/ week) with (10, 30 and 60 mM) on the specific activities of phosphatases which might lead to reducing power assay in (Triticum aestivum PBW344) seedling. A significant decrease in the redox potential of shoot compared to root was observed at the similar concentration of lead. A similar trend on leaves was also noted. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in roots than in shoot at all the three concentration of lead i.e. 10, 30 and 60 mM, compared to controls. The above mentioned changes were more pronounced at 60 mM concentration of lead than two other concentrations. These results lead us to suggest that increased lead concentration in soil might lead to adverse effects on plant growth and phosphatase activities.

Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in potentiating cadmium mobilization by diethylenetriamine penta acetic acid in mice.

The beneficial effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in potentiating the mobilization of cadmium by cadmium trisodium diethylenetriamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) from the major target organs and restoration of depleted tissue glutathione (GSH), zinc and copper concentration, were determined in cadmium-exposed mice. The results indicated a significant depletion of cadmium concentration from the blood in DTPA plus SAM treated animals compared with DTPA or SAM alone treated groups. The treatment with SAM alone was also effective in correcting the zinc and GSH concentrations. The results indicated few beneficial effects of concomitant SAM administration during chelation of cadmium with DTPA.

Effects of zinc supplementation during chelating agent administration in cadmium intoxication in rats.

The concomitant administration of zinc during chelation of cadmium (Cd) with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or calcium trisodium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) was investigated in male rats subchronically exposed to Cd. The results suggest that the administration of zinc alone after cadmium exposure does not elicit any protective effects. However, when supplemented during treatment with DTPA it produced a significant turnover in the altered biochemical variables and a depletion of Cd concentration in liver and kidneys. Cadmium-induced elevated hepatic metallothionein (MT) contents remained practically unaltered on Zn-DTPA administration, but there was a significant increase in renal MT levels compared to rats administered Cd-DTPA or Cd alone.

Effects of thiamin and methionine administration in preventing cadmium-induced biochemical alterations and metal concentration in male rats.

Thiamin or methionine supplementation was equally and moderately effective in preventing the accumulation of cadmium in soft organs and alterations in a few selected biochemical indices during concomitant administration. Adequate intake of sulfur amino acid following methionine supplementation might increase the bioavailability of glutathione, facilitating the prevention of the binding of cadmium to different compartments and consequently reversing cadmium-induced biochemical disorders. In the case of thiamine the possibility of formation of a readily excretable complex between cadmium and thiamine or an increase in the body's resistance to cadmium might be the beneficial factor.