Aluminum Accumulation Research Articles

Comparative Assessment of Aluminum Bioaccumulation and Morphological Changes in the Lungs and Brain after a Single Inhalation Exposure to Nanodispersed Aluminum Oxide

Accumulation of aluminum was established in the brain and lungs of ICR (CD-1) line mice after a single 4-h inhalation exposure to aerosols of water suspensions of nanodispersed aluminum oxide with particle size 30–40 nm in the actual concentration equal to 0.16 mg/m3 and microdispersed analogue with particle size 3000–6000 nm in the actual concentration equal to 0.15 mg/m3. Aluminum concentration in the lungs was 14.27 times higher under exposure to nano-particles than to micro-sized ones; aluminum concentration in the brain, 1.34 times higher in animals from the experimental group (exposed to nano-particles) against those from the reference one (exposed to micro-particles). Pathological changes in brain tissues of animals from the experimental group were characterized by subarachnoid hemorrhage, which was not detected in the reference group. Pathological changes in lung tissues of animals from the experimental group were characterized by acute hyperemia and small hemorrhagic infarctions, animals from the comparison group had hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue and eosinophilia of infiltrate. Identified changes in brain and lung tissues prove that aluminum oxide nanoparticles are more toxic in comparison with their microdispersed analogue.

Nitric oxide ameliorates aluminium toxicity in Anabaena PCC 7120: Regulation of aluminium accumulation, exopolysaccharides secretion, photosynthesis and oxidative stress markers

Higher amount of aluminium (Al) is a general feature of acidic soils which limits crop productivity. Cyanobacteria are also found on acidic soils where they encounter Al toxicity which can affect paddy productivity directly (due to reduction in nitrogen fixation) and indirectly (due to reduction in their biomass). In the past decade, tremendous progress in establishing the role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulating/ameliorating metal stress including Al has been achieved in higher plants. Studies on role of NO in regulating metal stress in cyanobacteria, however to our knowledge, are still scant. Therefore, in the present study, we have investigated probable role of NO in the regulation of Al stress in the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120. Aluminium (50 μM) declined growth (30%) of Anabaena PCC 7120 which was accompanied by the increase in intracellular accumulation of Al and decrease (19%) in exopolysaccharides (EPS), photosynthetic pigments and photosynthesis. However, exogenous addition of SNP reverses negative impacts of Al. Aluminium enhanced oxidative stress markers i.e. superoxide radical (SOR, 55%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 49%), lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde equivalents, 35%) and membrane damage (as evidenced by in vitro as well as in vivo analysis) and antioxidant defense system i.e. activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and decreased the contents of cysteine, proline and non-protein thiols. But SNP declined considerably Al-induced levels of oxidative stress markers by stimulating antioxidant defense system. The results also showed that NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) worsened negative impacts of Al while 2-4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (c-PTIO, a scavenger of NO) reverses SNP-mediated amelioration of Al stress. These results clearly show that NO has a role in ameliorating Al stress in Anabaena PCC 7120 by regulating intracellular accumulation of Al, secretion of EPS, photosynthesis, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defense system.

Are alien species necessarily stress sensitive? A case study on Lemna minuta and Lemna minor

It is widely assumed that environmental stressors contribute to the protection of habitats from invasion by alien species, and that native species are better stress-tolerators. This assumption was tested by comparing the performance of the invasive alien Lemna minuta Kunth with that of the co-generic native L. minor Linnaeus, under several environmental stressors. The effects of temperature and drought, important determinants of the distribution of Lemnaceae, on growth and photosynthesis were explored. Also, tolerance to, and accumulation of aluminium and copper were studied. Finally, tolerance to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was compared by growing the plants at different concentrations of the ROS generator paraquat (methyl-viologen). The present study shows that specific stressors (such as low temperature in this study) disproportionally affect growth of alien L. minuta. Yet, in the case of three other stressors (aluminium, copper, drought), effects on biomass growth are similar for the two species, or they are even less severe on L. minuta. Remarkably, L. minuta dries out faster, and accumulates more metals than L. minor, suggesting that the former species has a greater physiological tolerance, whilst the latter species has an avoidance strategy. Thus, the current study on the role of environmental stressors in facilitating alien invasions does not support the notion that the presence of stressors impedes alien invasions, but rather shows that differences between an alien and a native species are multi-faceted, and stressor-specific.

Boron increases root elongation by reducing aluminum induced disorganized distribution of HG epitopes and alterations in subcellular cell wall structure of trifoliate orange roots

Aluminum toxicity limits the plant growth by inducing inhibition of root elongation. Although several mechanisms have been proposed regarding the phytotoxic effects of aluminum on inhibition of root elongation; the primary causes of aluminum induced root inhibition and its mitigation by boron (B) are still elusive. The present study was carried out to explore the mechanisms of B induced mitigation of aluminum toxicity and to investigate the changes in well wall structure under aluminum toxicity coupled with the techniques of confocal laser microscope, lumogallion and transmission electron microscope. The results revealed that aluminum toxicity severely hampered the root elongation and plant biomass. Moreover, alteration in subcellular structure were observed under aluminum toxicity, however, such negative effects were further exacerbated with B deficiency. Aluminum toxicity indicated disorganized distribution of HG (homogalacturonan) epitopes with higher accumulation of apoplastic aluminum. Nevertheless, B supply improved root elongation, and reduced the aluminum uptake. Taken together, it is concluded that B application can reduce aluminum toxicity and improve root elongation by decreasing Al3+ accumulation to cell wall, alteration in the cell wall structure and reducing the distribution of HG epitopes in the roots of trifoliate (Poncirus trifoliate) orange.

Controls on foliar aluminium accumulation among populations of the tropical shrub Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomataceae).

Aluminium (Al) accumulation is a common trait expressed in at least 60 plant families and particularly prevalent in tropical woody plants. However, the functional significance and genetic or physiological controls on Al accumulation are currently unknown. We tested the hypothesis that differential expression of Al accumulation among wild populations of the Al-accumulating tropical shrub Melastoma malabathricum L. is associated with habitat-related variation in total and exchangeable soil Al concentrations. Mature leaves and seeds were sampled from 20 populations of M. malabathricum growing in six habitats across Peninsular Malaysia, and soil was collected from each site. The seeds were grown in hydroponic solutions comprising 50% Hoagland's solution amended with Al in the form of 1.0 mM AlCl3 to test the hypothesis that differential expression of foliar Al accumulation is an inherited trait. Foliar Al concentrations varied significantly among populations, but were not consistently different among plants growing in different habitats and showed no relationship to total or exchangeable Al concentrations in soils collected at the 20 sites. Mean foliar Al concentration in wild plants was positively correlated with foliar calcium (Ca) concentrations, and with total soil nitrogen (N), Ca and magnesium (Mg) concentrations, across the 20 populations, and Al addition increased foliar concentrations of phosphorus, Ca, Mg and potassium in seedlings. The differential expression of Al accumulation in M. malabathricum populations is uncoupled to local variation in soil Al concentrations, but may be sensitive to local soil-related variation in the availability of other macro-nutrients, in particular N, Ca and Mg. Further research on the factors controlling Al uptake should focus on the plasticity of this trait within populations of Al accumulators and interactions with micro-habitat variation in the availability of the macronutrient cations.

Salicylic acid reduces the accumulation of aluminum in Panax notoginsen root cell wall pectin via the NO signaling pathway

Salicylic acid (SA) and nitric oxide (NO) are key signal molecules involved in the reduction of Al accumulation in many plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether they could reduce the root content of Al and/or its binding to the root cell wall (CW) fractions in Panax notoginseng, and to investigate the corresponding regulatory mechanisms. Effects of Al treatments on the endogenous SA and NO contents of P. notoginseng were detected. Exogenous SA and paclobutrazol (PAC, a SA synthesis inhibitor) treatments were conducted to test the effects on endogenous NO content; exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO doner) and 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl- imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxyde (cPTIO, a NO synthesis inhibitor) treatments were conducted to test the effects on endogenous SA content. Pectin methyltransferase (PMT) and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity and the gene expression, pectin methylesterification degree (PMD), pectin content, and the accumulation of Al in roots were also studied under the treatments described above. Al stress induced a significant increase of the activity and expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and promoted the significant increase of endogenous SA content of P. notoginseng roots. The Al promoted accumulation of endogenous NO could be enhanced by exogenous SA treatment, but was reduced by PAC. Accumulation of endogenous NO that promoted by Al could be enhanced by exogenous SA treatment, but was reduced by PAC treatment. However, SNP or cPTIO treatments had no significant effect on the Al-induced endogenous SA content of P. notoginseng. This showed that NO acted downstream of SA signaling of P. notoginseng under Al stress. Al stress can increase the activity and genes expression of PME in the roots of P. notoginseng, reduce PMD, increase CW pectin content, and thus, the binding capacity of CW pectin to Al was enhanced in P. notoginseng roots. Exogenous SA or SNP both reduced the Al-binding capacity of root CW pectin by decreasing the pectin content, and increased the PMD by inhibiting the genes expression and activity of PME. The effects of PAC or cPTIO on the above-mentioned indicators under Al stress were opposite to that of exogenous SA or SNP treatments. The Al stress induced accumulation of pectin and the reduction of PMD in the root CW of P. notoginseng could be reversed by the treatments of exogenous SA or SNP, then the Al contents in root CW pectin were reduced. Al stress activated the endogenous SA and NO signaling pathways in P. notoginseng, and NO acted downstream of SA. It showed that the Al-activated NO-SA signaling pathway contributed in the reduction of Al binding to the root under Al stress.

Trace and macro elements in the femoral bone as indicators of long-term environmental exposure to toxic metals in European brown bear (Ursus arctos) from Croatia.

We explored the long-term accumulation of aluminium, strontium, cadmium and lead in the compact and trabecular bone of the femoral epiphysis, metaphysis and diaphysis in 41 brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Croatia. Also, we assessed their influence on macro and trace elements (sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc and barium) in bears' bone. There were no sex differences in element levels in general, while age was associated with bone length and levels of all elements, except for cadmium. Elements had different levels depending on the part of the bone sampled. More pronounced differences were observed between the compact and trabecular regions, with higher levels of majority of elements found in compact bone. Moderate to high associations (Spearman coefficient, rS = 0.59-0.97) were confirmed between calcium and potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, cobalt, zinc, strontium and lead. Lead levels in the bone were below those known to cause adverse health effects, but in 4 of 41 animals they exceeded baseline levels for domestic animals. The femoral bone of the brown bear reflected the accumulative nature of lead and strontium well, as it did the impairment of bone-forming essential element levels associated with these two elements. However, the distribution pattern of elements along the bone was not uniform, so additional care should be taken when choosing on the part of the bone sampled.

Detection of aluminium in different culinary media using black Eriochrome T

Local kitchen utensils are usually used in the preparation of food in Burkina Faso. The interactions between food and aluminium local kitchen utensils can be a potential source of aluminium released which can contribute to aluminium ingestion in the human body. Hence, it is important to identify the possible effects of such an interaction. The aim of this study was to determine the quantity of aluminium released in local culinary media used in Burkina Faso employing black Eriochrome T (BET). The results showed that the aluminium contents in cooked food vary according to the cooking media, the temperature and the cooking duration but were below standard rate. Moreover, the results showed that aluminium leaching was higher in salted solutions than in the other boiling media. This is probably related to the presence of chloride ions in this media. But, the results of this study suggest that there is a little concern about possible aluminium accumulation in different culinary media.© 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Aluminium, colorimetric, cooking, local kitchen utensils, BET, Burkina Faso

Protective effects of banana pectin against aluminum-induced cognitive impairment and aluminum accumulation in mice

To investigate the effect of pectin on absorption and bio-toxicity of aluminum, pectin extract (100 mg kg−1 d−1) from banana pulp was orally administrated to aluminum exposed mice (35 mg kg−1 d−1) for 6 weeks. Our result showed that body weight gain of the mice treated with aluminum plus banana pectin was 32.5% higher than that of mice exposed to aluminum alone after 6 weeks of the administration. In both the step-down inhibitory avoidance task and Morris water maze test, memory retention of aluminum-exposed mice was significantly improved by the pectin administration. Treatment with banana pectin effectively prevented absorption of aluminum from the gastrointestinal tract, total aluminum excretion of mice treated with banana pectin plus aluminum was 9.3% higher than that of mice exposed to aluminum alone on the 12th day. Aluminum level in serum, cerebrum, or cerebellum of mice treated with aluminum plus banana pectin was 30.8%, 17.5%, or 17.9% lower than that of mice exposed to aluminum alone on the 42nd day, respectively. In conclusion, banana pectin extract can effectively reduce aluminum toxicity in mice.

Tree species effects are amplified by clay content in acidic soils

The tree species composition of many forests in western and central Europe has changed considerably over the last century, as large areas of mixed deciduous forests were replaced by conifer plantations. In this study, we aim to evaluate whether conversion of mixed broadleaved forest to Norway spruce (Picea abies) on the acidic soils of the Gaume forest (southern Belgium) affected soil quality in terms of soil acidity, exchangeable calcium and aluminium, humus type and earthworm communities, and determine whether this effect is mitigated or amplified by an edaphic gradient in clay content. In this ancient deciduous woodland, stands were partly converted from mixed deciduous forest to Norway spruce monocultures 30–60 years ago. A twin-plot setup was established, where we sampled pairs of adjacent deciduous and Norway spruce plots along a gradient in clay content varying between 3 and 34%. This design allowed to evaluate the effects of soil type and conversion independently. In the deciduous plots, forest type ranged from mixed oak-hornbeam forest to oak-beech forest. The first has a higher clay content, higher exchangeable calcium, mull humus type, low forest floor mass and the presence of burrowing earthworms (endogeics), while the latter is characterised by high forest floor mass and presence of only litter-dwelling earthworms (epigeics), respectively. Our results provide evidence that the natural biogeochemical gradient converges to a narrow and acid range after conversion. When comparing Norway spruce plots with adjacent broadleaved stands, topsoil pH, calcium concentrations and total earthworm biomass were significantly lower, endogeic and epi-anecic earthworms were mostly absent, and the exchangeable aluminium was significantly higher. Contrary to the current paradigm, the impact of conversion in these acidic soils is largest for the stands with the highest clay content, where the larger exchange capacity allows greater accumulation of exchangeable aluminium when pH becomes sufficiently low. These findings have important implications for forest management: for systems near a threshold in soil process domain, it is important to realise that the sites with higher CEC and more favourable pH-values are the ones that will have larger trajectories and deteriorate the most upon acidification. Hence restoring such stands into more natural deciduous or mixed forest may become increasingly difficult.

Aluminium oxide nanoparticles compromise spatial learning and memory performance in rats.

Recently, the biosafety and potential influences of nanoparticles on central nervous system have received more attention. In the present study, we assessed the effect of aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3-NPs) on spatial cognition. Male Wistar rats were intravenously administered Al2O3-NP suspension (20 mg/kg body weight/day) for four consecutive days, after which they were assessed. The results indicated that Al2O3-NPs impaired spatial learning and memory ability. An increment in malondialdehyde levels with a concomitant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity confirmed the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Additionally, our findings showed that exposure to Al2O3-NPs resulted in decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus. Furthermore, Al2O3-NPs enhanced aluminium (Al) accumulation and disrupted mineral element homoeostasis in the hippocampus. However, they did not change the morphology of the hippocampus. Our results show a connection among oxidative stress, disruption of mineral element homoeostasis, and Al accumulation in the hippocampus, which leads to spatial memory deficit in rats treated with Al2O3-NPs.

Severe neonatal hypercalcemia secondary to Aluminium toxicity

Aluminum, the most abundant metal on the planet, though inert can lead to toxicity when repeatedly exposed. Infants mainly get exposed to aluminum via formula milk whereas NICU babies are exposed to it through parenteral nutrition. Moreover, in pre-term babies with feed intolerance, when added with aluminum containing antacids develop abnormal accumulation of aluminum. Aluminum toxicity inadvertently leads to hypophosphatemia, metabolic bone diseases with occasional hypercalcemia as well as many other systemic involvements in the form of encephalopathy, dementia and microcytic anaemia. With stoppage of oral antacid, transition from parenteral nutrition to enteral feeds and supplementation of phosphate, causes gradual resolution of toxicity over a period of time.

Phosphate dosing to sustain the ammonium removal activity of an iron-manganese co-oxide filter film at pilot scale: Effects on chemical catalytic oxidation

An iron–manganese co-oxide filter film (MeOx) coated on filter sand has been shown be a good catalyst for the oxidation of ammonium in the treatment of groundwater. However, its catalytic activity decreases gradually when it is used to remove ammonium from surface water. In this study, phosphate was added to sustain the ammonium removal activity of MeOx in a pilot-scale filter system for surface water treatment. The results showed that the ammonium removal efficiency of the MeOx filter without phosphate dosing decreased gradually, and just 27.69% removal efficiency was obtained at 6.1 °C. After dosing with 30 μg/L phosphate, the ammonium removal efficiency remained high after continuous operation for 176 days and reached 85.74%, even at 6.1 °C. It was found that both the biological nitrification activity and the chemical catalytic activity of MeOx were markedly enhanced after phosphate dosing (compared with that without phosphate dosing). Through inactivation by ozone, the biological nitrification and chemical catalytic activity were distinguished. It was found that chemical catalytic activity accounted for around 67.59% of the total ammonium removal. Aluminum was found to accumulate on the surface of MeOx and combine competitively with its active sites. This may be the primary reason for the decrease in the catalytic activity of MeOx. With phosphate dosing, the accumulation of aluminum decreased by 60.53% and the chemical combination of aluminum and MeOx was suppressed, thus sustaining the catalytic activity of MeOx.

Investigation on effect of basalin coated silver nanoparticles as antioxidant for alleviating peripheral neuropathy in mice treated with oxaliplatin

A facile, convenient, and green method for the synthesis of BAgNPs by using basalin is proposed in this work. The capping of the basalin on the surface of BAgNP was confirmed by the zeta potential and FTIR findings. Further, we have injected prepared BAgNPs into oxaliplatin-treated mice to alleviate neuropathic pain. The aluminum levels in the DRG were reduced by the chelating activity of BAgNPs. Moreover, behavioral analyses also manifested that the accumulation of aluminum on the DRG might be a reason for neuropathic hyperalgesia. These findings also recommended that the chelation of aluminum by AgNPs could provide an effective remedy to alleviate the symptoms of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain in cancer patients.

Строение и состав коры выветривания на терригенно-карбонатных породах в алмазоносных регионах

Carried out complex research indicated that in the course of weathering of terrigenouscarbonate rocks of basic diamondiferous regions of the Siberian Platform a dissolution of carbonates and decomposition of trioctahedral laminated silicates took place first. Because of such process and sequential washing out the individual elements from various levels of thick eluvial layers, sufficient alteration of physical-mechanical properties and structural-textural specific features of primary rocks can be observed. Fast destruction of carbonates and trioctahedral minerals leads to development of cavities and large pores with high permeability, providing leaching of potassium, abundance of silica and other unstable in the zone of hypergenesis elements. Redistribution of elements provides a local decrease of medium pH and subsequent relative accumulation of aluminum, which is the most important element necessary for new formation of kaolinite. Some intermediate phases (gypsum, aluminite, basaluminite, jarosite and others) may crystallize in the formed caverns and fractures. A very intensive process of superimposed secondary formation of sulphate minerals due to infiltration of rich in sulphur waters is an important feature of hypergene alteration of terrigenous-carbonate rocks in the basic diamondiferous regions of the Siberian Platform. It allows referring such crust of weathering to sulfuric type, apart from the Pre-Early Jurassic crust of alkaline type.

Effect of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid and Ammonium Oxalate on the Prevalence of Microorganisms and Removal of Aluminum in Soil by Bitter Leaf Plant (<i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> Delile)

This research was carried out to investigate effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ammonium oxalate on the prevalence of microorganisms and removal of aluminum in soil by bitter leaf plant (Vernonia amygdalina). The test plant was sown in aluminium-polluted soil (conc. = 150mg Al kg-1 soil). One gram of each chelating agent was dissolved in 1.5 litres of water and applied at different time intervals; application on a day prior to sowing of test plant in metal-polluted soil, application on the day of planting, application at one week after planting; at one month after planting. For the control soils, chelating agent were not added, although aluminium-contaminated. In the control, aluminium concentrations in leaf tissues were 16.20mg/kg compared to a staggering 9.20mg/kg in EW1 and 5.24mg/kg in OD1. However, heavy metal concentration of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina in the control, EW1, EM1, OD-1 and OW1 were significantly similar (P>0.05). Concentration of aluminium in the stem tissues were also similar in ED1, EM1, OD-1, OD1 and OW1 (P>0.05) were concentration ranged from 5.42mg/kg to 7.98mg/kg. Compared to the control, aluminium concentration in stem tissues was 4.95mg/kg comparable with 3.42mg/kg in OM1. In the plant root, OD1 had the highest accumulation of aluminium in the root (16.92mg/kg); however concentrations of aluminium in the roots were also statically similar in OW1 (15.08mg/kg), OM1 (13.84mg/kg), OD-1 (14.72mg/kg), EM1 (15.12mg/kg) and in the control (13.52mg/kg). Results of the following also showed concentrations of residual aluminium in the soil ranging from 68.25mg/kg in the control to 109.85mg/kg in ED1 soil. After three months of planting, results show that the total bacteria count for ED1 (5.3 × 104 cfu/g) had the highest while OM1 (3.9 × 103 cfu/g) had the lowest. For fungi isolates, the highest was control (8.2 × 103 cfu/g) whereas the lowest were OD–1 (6.8 × 102 cfu/g). The most prevalent microorganisms in the spiked soil with heavy metal are Bacillus subtilis represented in all the samples for bacteria while Aspergillus niger representing fungi. The perseverance of the test plant in the aluminium spiked soil is an indication of adaptation to the stress imposed by the concentration of aluminium in soil. In spite of the metal composition within the soil, it was observed that a number of microorganisms existed. This may therefore suggest a favourable environment for the microorganisms within the soil rhizospheric region of Vernonia amygdalina.Keywords: EDTA, oxalate, aluminium, pollution, remediation, Vernonia amygdalina

Methane enhances aluminum resistance in alfalfa seedlings by reducing aluminum accumulation and reestablishing redox homeostasis

Methane (CH4) is emerging as a candidate of signal molecule recently. However, whether or how CH4 enhances plant adaptation to aluminum (Al)-contaminated environment is still unknown. In this report, the physiological roles and possible molecular mechanisms of CH4 in the modulation of Al toxicity in alfalfa seedlings were characterized. Our results showed that, CH4 pretreatment could alleviate Al-induced seedling growth inhibition and redox imbalance. The defensive effects of CH4 against Al toxicity including the remission of Al-induced root elongation inhibition, nutrient disorder, and relative electrolyte leakage. Moreover, contents of organic acids, including citrate, malate, and oxalate, were increased by CH4. These results were paralleled by the findings of CH4 regulated organic acids metabolism and transport genes, citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase, aluminum-activated malate transporter, and aluminum activated citrate transporter. Consistently, Al accumulation in seedling roots was decreased after CH4 treatment. In addition, Al-induced oxidative stress was also alleviated by CH4, through the regulation of the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, such as ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase, as well as their corresponding transcripts. Our data clearly suggested that CH4 alleviates Al toxicity by reducing Al accumulation in organic acid-dependent fashion, and reestablishing redox homeostasis.

Effect of Microbial inoculation in combating the aluminium toxicity effect on growth of Zea mays.

The present study is aimed at improving the aluminium tolerance in maize crop employing the potential of microbial inoculants in conferring resistance to these toxicities via production of certain chelating compounds like siderophores, exopolysachharides and organic acids. Acid soils have now-a-days become one of the key factors for limiting growth of many agriculturally important crops. Aluminium is one of the major elements present in acid soils and is mainly responsible for toxicity in the soil. This aluminium is rapidly soluble in soil water and hence absorbed by plant roots under conditions where soil pH is below 5. This toxicity leads to severe root growth inhibition, thereby limiting the production of maize crops. It was observed that use of microbial inoculums can be helpful in elimination of these toxic compounds and prevent the inhibition of root growth . It was found that the soils contaminated with aluminium toxicity decreased the root length of maize plant significantly by 65% but Bacillus and Burkholderia inoculation increased this root length significantly by 1.4- folds and 2- folds respectively thereby combating the effect of aluminium toxicity. Aluminium concentration was found maximum in roots of plants which were grown under aluminium stress condition. But this aluminium accumulation decreased ̴ 2-folds when Burkholderia was used as seed inoculants under aluminium stress conditions. Also, at 60mM aluminium accumulation, phosphorus solubilisation in roots was found to be increased upto 30% on Burkholderia inoculation. However, Bacillus inoculation didn't show any significant difference in either of the case. Thus, the inoculation of seeds with Burkholderia isolates could prove to be a boon in sequestering aluminium toxicity in Zea mays.

Astaxanthin as Potential Antioxidant Agent Protects from Accumulation of Heavy-metals in Brain

يتعرض البشر بشكل متزايد للمعادن الثقيلة من الغذاء والماء والدواء واللقاحات ومستحضرات التجميل. يتم ترسب سمية المعادن الثقيلة في البشر لفترة و التي ترتبط بعلاقات سببية محتملة بين عبء الجسم الثقيلة المعادن الثقيلة وعدد من الاضطرابات العصبية بما في ذلك مرض الزهايمر، باركنسون واضطرابات التوحد. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم الخصائص المضادة للأكسدة لأستازانتين (أستا) لتحديد تأثير قدرة أستا التي تعطى عن طريق الفم لتقييم تراكم وسمية المعادن الثقيلة في دماغ الفئران. كما أنها تقيم ضد الإجهاد التأكسدي الناجم عن بيروكسيد الهيدروجين والخصائص المحتملة المضادة للأكسدة من أستا مع مقارنة التأثيرية من 5٪ و 10٪ من أستا في زيادة الانزيمات إعادة التدوير الجلوتاثيون (أكسدة غس). وقد لوحظ تغير كبير في زيادة الانزيمات الجلوتاثيون إعادة تدوير (غكس أكسدة) من الفئران وأظهرت تأثير وقائي ضد تراكم الألومنيوم (آل) في أنسجة المخ الفئران. وأظهرت نتائج هذه الدراسة في الجسم الحي أن أستا 10٪ يكون أكثر ارتباطا في تراكم وسمية الالمونيوم في الدماغ.

Use of Underarm Cosmetic Products in Relation to Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study

BackgroundPrevious studies on breast cancer (BC), underarm cosmetic products (UCP) and aluminum salts have shown conflicting results. We conducted a 1:1 age-matched case-control study to investigate the risk for BC in relation to self-reported UCP application. MethodsSelf-reported history of UCP use was compared between 209 female BC patients (cases) and 209 healthy controls. Aluminum concentration in breast tissue was measured in 100 cases and 52 controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for established BC risk factors. FindingsUse of UCP was significantly associated with risk of BC (p=0.036). The risk for BC increased by an OR of 3.88 (95% CI 1.03–14.66) in women who reported using UCP's several times daily starting at an age earlier than 30years. Aluminum in breast tissue was found in both cases and controls and was significantly associated to self-reported UCP use (p=0.009). Median (interquartile) aluminum concentrations were significantly higher (p=0.001) in cases than in controls (5.8, 2.3–12.9 versus 3.8, 2.5–5.8nmol/g). InterpretationFrequent use of UCPs may lead to an accumulation of aluminum in breast tissue. More than daily use of UCPs at younger ages may increase the risk of BC.