Abstract
Acid rain (AR) has been reported to induce stress in plants affecting its productivity, growth, flowering and physiology. The molecular changes induced in plants due to the effect of acid rain or acid induced orientation or chloroplast streaming remains largely unknown. Therefore, in the current study we report for the first time the static and permanent changes in the cell of the medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri L. due to sulphur-simulated acid rain (S-SiAR). AR induced effects witnessed by the reduction of the size of starch granules and chloroplast, amount of the granules per unit area, dissolving cell walls, breaking the normal fiber, salt-induced strain in the various components of the cell. Effect of starch granule and chloroplast due to S-SiAR was analyzed using light, confocal and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The elements viz. potassium and magnesium present in the chloroplasts reveal acidic pH due to effect of S-SiAR observed by the ionization of Mg and K (to Mg2+ and K+), in which K+ induced by the effects of S-SiAR revealed a net negative Nernst potential of about -87.55 mV. Calcium is mainly present on the cell walls and responsible for binding of starch granules become ionized to Ca2+ on interacting with AR indicated by the altered Nernst potential of +137.04 mV. A net potential difference may cause the above streaming of chloroplast towards the large starch granules. From this study, we report AR-induced physiological changes in medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri L. for the first time.
Highlights
All living things, whether terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal plants or herbs, animals or birds, are affected directly or indirectly by acid rain (AR)
The thin films of the raw B. monnieri extract were prepared on glass slides
Starch granules from mature plant specimens can be removed for the direct analysis
Summary
Whether terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal plants or herbs, animals or birds, are affected directly or indirectly by acid rain (AR). It was reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, sedative, free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidative activities. It exhibits potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. The pharmacological properties of B. monnieri have been studied extensively and the activities have been attributed mainly to the presence of characteristic saponins called “bacosides” [12] [13]. In traditional medications, it finds application in rebirthing therapy to accelerate trauma release and to make continuous breathing easier. Endogenous substances in B. monnieri extract (BmE) have been reported to play role in antioxidant activity manifested by reduction of divalent ions scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alterations of lipoxygenase activity and hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation, the contents being suggestive of endogenous antioxidant activity [15]
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