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Volume 6 Special Issue 1 2012
Mineral Nutrition of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
ISBN 978-4-903313-95-5
How to reference: Mishra BK, Rastogi A, Shukla S (2012)Regulatory Role of Mineral Elements in the Metabolism of Medicinal Plants. In: Naeem M, Khan MMA, Moinuddin (Eds) Mineral Nutrition of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 1-23
Guest Editors
M. Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan, Moinuddin
Aligarh Muslim University, India
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Brij K. Mishra, Anu Rastogi, Sudhir Shukla (India) Regulatory Role of Mineral Elements in the Metabolism of Medicinal Plants (pp 1-23)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Minerals have a diversified role in medicinal plant metabolism. Severity or scarcity of these causes multifarious effects in plant metabolism. Each and every aspect of plant biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, etc. is affected due to mineral nutrient composition of soils. Medicinal plants inherit resistance due to biosynthesis of bioactive substances (secondary metabolites) against the various types of diseases caused due to fungus, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas, insects and pests. The concentration of these minerals of both group i.e. activators or inhibitors present in the soil play a vital role in secondary plant metabolism. Minerals also play a major role in the reproduction of these medicinally important plants. Bioactive molecules of medical relevancy such as alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, lipids, carbohydrates, resins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, volatile oils, vitamins, tannins etc. produced through various biosynthetic pathways of plants are a boon to urban, hilly and remote population of each nation. However, soils with different compositions of mineral elements adversely influence the metabolic activities of such valuable medicinal plants. Various physiological activities are governed through important mineral elements present in soils from where these are transferred to area where their need arises. So, accumulation and biosynthesis of these bioactive molecules in plant system are widely dependent on the availability of mineral elements in the soil. Different developmental stages of the medicinal plants need supplementation of different macro- and micro- elements during its various growth and biosynthesis steps. This review deals with regulatory role of various mineral elements in each biological activities of different medicinal plants viz. Papaver, Catharanthus, Withania etc.
M. Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan, Moinuddin (India) Role of Mineral Nutrients in Cultivation of Medicinal Legumes (pp 24-38)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Legumes (Fabaceae family) produce primary and secondary metabolites and other phytochemicals such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other industrial products. The medicinal legumes are potential sources of glycosides (aloe-emodin, chrysophenol, emodin, rhein, etc.), antibiotics, flavonoids, alkaloids and phytochemicals, which are used in drug manufacturing by the pharmaceutical industries. Thus, escalation of yield and quality of the medicinal legumes is of paramount importance. The various ways to improve yield and quality of medicinal legumes essentially include the supply of mineral nutrients as per the soil demand. In fact, balanced nutrition of crop plants plays a vital role in sustaining the yield and quality of medicinal plants together with maintaining the fertility status of soils on long-term basis. Among the macro-nutrients, phosphorus (P) is a major component of metabolic molecules involved in storage and utilization mechanism of energy that affects the growth and metabolism of plants significantly. Another element of macro-importance is calcium (Ca) that plays important structural and physiological roles in plants. It is essential for maintaining the stability of the membranes and walls of the cells and maintains the cell integrity. Above all, Ca is a second messenger and, thereby, controls the growth and differentiation of plants. In this review article, we have gathered important information about the individual effects of P and Ca on selected medicinal legumes. This review also covers the general description and therapeutic uses of medicinal legumes. The authors have themselves carried out a considerable work to evaluate the effect of P and Ca on selected medicinally important leguminous plants including hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus L.), coffee senna (Senna occidentalis L.), senna sophera (Cassia sophera L.) and Cassia tora L. (Cassia obtusifolia L.).
Remigius Chizzola (Austria) Metallic Mineral Elements and Heavy Metals in Medicinal Plants (pp 39-53)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: A large proportion of the world’s population relies on medicines from the herbal sources. In this review, data about the mineral element content of medicinal and aromatic plants, including major elements, trace elements and toxic heavy metals, will be discussed and compared. Plants and drugs with remarkable elemental compositions will be pointed out. The main focus will be given on plants used in and originating from Europe and the Mediterranean region. The main metallic mineral macronutrients accumulate usually in the order K > Ca > Mg. The contents of beneficial trace elements decrease commonly from Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Mo. Higher concentrations occur in the leaves compared to other plant parts. Amongst the toxic heavy metals Cd, Pb and Hg are the best investigated. Due to its high mobility in the soil and good availability to plants, monitoring Cd merits special attention. A range of plants shows the tendency to accumulate higher concentrations of this element. For these plants, which may display problematic Cd levels, production measures should be taken to minimize the Cd accumulation, taking into consideration the growing site, planting material and fertilization regime. Interactions in the uptake between various elements have been described. The most prominent one occurs between Cd and Zn. Furthermore, it will be discussed that during the preparation of herbal tea using boiling water, only a proportion of the minerals is extracted. Finally regulations to set limits for toxic heavy metals at the national or international level are considered.
Dragoja Radanović, Svetlana Antić-Mladenović (Serbia) Uptake, Accumulation and Distribution of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (pp 54-68)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: This paper reviews contents and distribution of essential and potentially toxic trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni) in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). A large difference in metal uptake between plant species has been demonstrated in many studies. Concentration of trace elements in the MAPs is largely determined by soil type, growing site conditions and soil chemical processes, particularly soil pH. Additionally, anthropogenic pollution of soil and air affects metal contents in the MAPs. Furthermore, the species and genotypes of a species differ greatly in their ability for metal uptake. Recent studies have shown capability of some of the MAPs for metal hyperaccumulation; particularly Hypericum perforatum accumulates more Cd than other plants under the same growing conditions. Uptake, accumulation and translocation of metals, and consequently, a good quality of MAPs and final products that should be free from potentially harmful constituents, can be controlled by combining: (i) adequate choice of growing site (especially regarding: soil pH, organic matter content, clay content, redox potential, distance from point pollution sources, etc.), (ii) choice of suitable genotypes and (iii) appropriate management of soil and crops. Additionally, the MAPs, and in particular the plant parts to be utilized (e.g. roots, leaves, flowers, herb) should be regularly tested for contaminant load before processing for pharmaceutical drugs. The present review also highlights the potential risks of human intoxication with trace elements after the consumption of pharmaceutical drugs (essential oils, extracts, and teas).
Moinuddin, M. Masroor A. Khan, M. Naeem (India) Drought Stress Effects on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and the Possible Stress Amelioration by Mineral Nutrition (pp 69-83)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Limited water supply is one of the major abiotic factors that adversely affects agricultural crop production worldwide. Drought stress disturbs the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense, causing the accumulation of ROS that induce oxidative stress to proteins, membrane lipids and other cellular components. Drought stress hampers photosynthesis harshly owing to interference with stomatal functioning and causing serious damage to photosynthetic apparatus through ROS production. Hence, water-stressed plants exhibit disturbance in metabolism, particularly that of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. As a result of water stress, growth parameters associated with root and above-ground parts, e.g. leaf area, height, and fresh and dry matter of plants, are severely reduced, leading to drastic reductions in growth, yield and quality of plants. Mineral elements have numerous functions in plants including charge balance, electron carriers, structural components, and enzyme activation. Besides, these elements behave as osmotica for maintenance of turgor and growth under drought stress. However, their uptake is reduced to a great extent under water deficit. Hence, their additional supplementation under water deficit results in improvement in their uptake and mitigation of deleterious effects of drought stress. A wide range of studies on the effect of drought stress on growth, yield and quality of field crops have been conducted; however, such studies related to medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are few. In this review, in addition to describing the adverse effects of water stress on the growth, yield and quality attributes of MAPs, the ameliorative role of some of the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium) is discussed.
M. Masroor A. Khan, M. Naeem, Firoz Mohammad, Moinuddin (India) Establishment of Mineral Nutritional Requirement for Some Important Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Climatic Conditions of Northern India (pp 84-93)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Exploiting the healing power of plants has been a human practice since prehistoric times. To meet the ever-increasing demand of medicinal plants, cultivation of these plants on scientific principles is the only solution. Mineral nutrients are indispensable for the growth and development of plants as their deficiency limits crop production significantly. Like other plants, medicinal plants also require mineral elements for their growth and development. However, all species do not require the same complement of minerals in the same amounts; in fact, the differences between species are much less variable than those between the amounts of specific minerals within a single species. With a view of improving yield and quality (active constituents) of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), the mineral nutritional requirement of several MAPs in an Indian climate was calculated. The work was conducted in pots as well as in the field, supplying graded levels of the nutrients to the soil along with proper controls. This review provides information regarding the optimum requirement of N, P and K in Indian climatic conditions for the following MAPs: Anethum sowa, Cichorium intybus, Curcuma Longa, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Datura innoxia, Foeniculum vulgare, Lallemantia royleana, Linum usitatissimum, Mentha arvensis, Nigella sativa, Plantago ovata, Solanum nigrum, Tigonella foenum-graecum, Withania somnifera and Zingiber officinale.
Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), M. Naeem, Mohd. Idrees (India) Beneficial and Toxic Effects of Nickel in Relation to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (pp 94-104)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Nickel (Ni) is a constituent of urease, and small quantities of Ni (0.01 to 5 g/g dry weight) are essential for some plant species. Ni has been considered as an essential micronutrient, which is required by urease for hydrolysing urea. Ni has a role in plant growth and N uptake in crops supplied with urea in calcareous soils. Ni deficiency affects plant growth, plant senescence, nitrogen metabolism, and iron uptake and it may play a role in disease resistance. Ni is absorbed and redistributed in plants via cation and/or metal-ligand complex transport systems. However, excessive Ni inhibits growth and development of plants, induces leaf chlorosis and wilting, and reduces total plant yields. Several investigators have performed several studies on the residual levels of heavy metals (HMs) in medicinal herbs. According to a study, the level of essential elements in MAPs is conditional, being affected by the geochemical characteristics of the soil and by the ability of plants to selectively accumulate some of these elements. The use of hyperaccumulators or wetland plants to remove and/or sequester Ni from soil and water has been proposed by various workers. The accumulation of HMs such as Ni in some desert plants may open a new perspective for the application of these species as ‘accumulators’ of HMs to clean-up contaminated soils in dry environments. The researchers still debate over the causes and mechanisms of hyperaccumulation, which may depend on the morphological and physiological characteristics of particular plant species and the capacity of Ni to overcome the physiological barriers. We have reviewed the information regarding occurrence, sources, essentiality, toxicity and tolerance of Ni regarding medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), supporting our view discussing the effects of Ni on other plants.
Azaizeh Hassan (Israel) Effects of Mineral Nutrients on Physiological and Biochemical Processes Related to Secondary Metabolites Production in Medicinal Herbs (pp 105-110)
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ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: Although biosynthesis of plant metabolites (e.g. alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, etc.) is primarily controlled genetically, environmental factors such as stresses and nutrient elements affect the production of metabolites in plants. Many biological activities have been ascribed to these metabolites. In addition to their therapeutic effects, they play a role as chemical defense agents against microorganisms and herbivores. Therapeutic effects of medicinal plants are associated with their chemical peculiarities. Chemical features of these plants serve as an integral determinant of their species specificity and pharmacological properties and facilitate their wide use in medical practice and other uses. The relationship between the synthesis of physiologically active substances and accumulation of elements is mediated by several levels of molecular regulation. There is general agreement that various mineral nutrients increase the growth of individual plants and, consequently, enhance the total plant biomass yield. However, the effects of certain macro- and micro-nutrients on the production of secondary metabolites are also modulated by environmental conditions and depend on plant species. Incorporation of one or more of the trace elements could increase or decrease the production of secondary metabolites depending on the plant species as well as on the concentrations of these elements. The effect of the interaction of certain nutrients on the production of secondary metabolites in herbs is discussed in the present review as well.
Katarzyna Seidler-Łożykowska, Anna Golcz (Poland) The Effect of Organic Cultivation on the Contents of Macro- and Micro-elements Studied in Polish Cultivars of three Medicinal Plants (pp 111-114)
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ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Experiments were conducted to evaluate the contents of macro-elements [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg)] as well as micro-elements [iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn)] in organic herbs of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and marjoram (Origanum majorana L.). For the chemical analysis, conducted on dry weight basis, the herbs were obtained from the experiments conducted in four certified organic farms in Poland. Among the herbs of basil, savory and marjoram, basil herb contained largest amounts of all macro- and micro-elements except that of Fe, which was maximal in marjoram. The average content of N, P, K, Mg Mn, Cu and Zn was higher in the organic herb compared with the conventional one. Enhanced content of macro- and micro-elements in the tested herbs had significant effect on the herb-quality.
Kamel Msaada, Karim Hosni, Mouna Ben Taarit, Mohamed Hammami, Brahim Marzouk (Tunisia) Effects of Crop Season and Maturity Stage on the Yield and Composition of Essential Oil of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Fruit (pp 115-122)
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ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: The aim of this study was to determine the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from fruits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L. cv. ‘Menzel Temime’ with high essential oil yield: 0.35%, w/w) as affected by two successive crop seasons and different stages of maturity using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The maximal oil yields (0.17 and 0.32%) reached at the final stage of maturity in the season 2003 and 2004, respectively. Oil yields were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by the crop season, stage of maturity and their interaction. EO composition varied significantly (P < 0.05) with the stages of maturity. The compound linalool was the main compound in the season 2003 (79.86 ± 8.16) as well as in 2004 (80.04 ± 9.12). The strong effect of crop season, maturity stage and their interaction was found on 36 EO compounds. Several compounds (α-terpinene, α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol, carvone and p-cymen-8-ol) showed a different response to crop season, stage of maturity and their interaction.
Oyeboade Adebayo, Rukkayah Aminu-Taiwo, Esther Adesegun (Nigeria) Growth, Essential Oil Content and Antimicrobial Activity of Basil Influenced by Nitrogen Fertiliser and Plant Density (pp 123-126)
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ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different nitrogen (N) rates and plant densities on vegetative growth, yield and essential oil content of basil (Ocimum basilicum L). Three N rates (0, 60 or 120 kg N ha−1) and three plant densities (6,250, 12,500 and 25,000 plants/ha) were assigned to main plots and sub-plots respectively in a split plot design with three replications. Basil essential oil was further evaluated for its in vitro effect on Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum. N fertilization up to 120 kg ha−1 significantly (P > 0.05) increased yield of above-ground (40.1 t/ha) and leaf fresh biomass (122.6 t/ha), leaf essential oil yield (9.3%), but it did not affect plant height and the number of branches per plant. The increase in essential oil yield induced by N fertilization was related to leaf biomass. Plant density significantly increased the above-ground biomass yield and the plant N content but did not affect plant height and essential oil content. The highest above-ground biomass yield (47.6 t/ha) and plant nitrogen content (2.7%) were recorded with a density of 25,000 plants/ha. Basil essential oil completely prevented egg hatching in M. incognita at all concentrations tested while the mycelium growth of F. oxysporum was significantly reduced as oil concentration increased. The lowest mycelium growth of 1.5 mm was recorded on plates with 40% essential oil.
Khalid A. Khalid (Egypt) Effect of Phosphorous Fertilization on Anise, Coriander and Sweet Fennel Plants Growing under Arid Region Conditions (pp 127-131)
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ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Arid regions in Egypt are characterized by poor nutrients such as phosphorous (P) and unfavorable environmental conditions which negatively affect growth and productivity of medicinal and aromatic plants including anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. Dolce) plants. Thus, the main objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of different levels of P fertilizer as calcium superphosphate (15% P2O5) at 0 (control), 37.5, 56.3 and 75 kg ha-1 P2O5 on the morphological and biochemical contents of these three plants under arid conditions over two successive seasons. The most effective rate was 56.3 kg ha-1, resulting in a positive increase in vegetative growth characters [plant height (cm), leaf number (plant1), branch number (plant-1), umbel number (plant-1), herb fresh weight (plant-1), herb dry weight (plant-1) and fruit yield (plant-1)]. The highest values of vegetative growth characters were 44.5, 35.6, 10.9, 31.2, 20.9, 6.8 and 6.9, respectively for anise; 83.0, 66.1, 7.8, 24.7 19.9, 8.7 and 6.9, respectively for coriander; 98.9, 32.8, 6.9, 16.8, 113.4, 85.8 and 24.7, respectively for sweet fennel. 75kg ha-1 led to higher biochemical contents than the control. The increases were 1.2, 0.4 and 0.6% in essential oil; 3.7, 6.0 and 2.1% in fixed oil, 6.6, 11.0 and 9.0% in total carbohydrates; 0.6, 0.3 and 0.4% in soluble sugars; 3.7, 4.9 and 3.9% in crude protein; 1.4, 1.3 and 1.2% in nitrogen; 1.9, 0.8 and 1.5% in phosphorous; 1.5, 1.1 and 0.7% in potassium for anise, coriander and sweet fennel, respectively. |
