The effects of cadmium on selected oxidative stress parameters and the content of photosynthetic pigments in cucumber Cucumis sativus L

Agnieszka Rombel-Bryzek; Bartosz Bojarski; Paweł Świsłowski; Mateusz Jakubiak; Iryna Boliukh; Małgorzata Rajfur

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127463

The effects of cadmium on selected oxidative stress parameters and the content of photosynthetic pigments in cucumber Cucumis sativus L

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2024 Apr 21:84:127463. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127463. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Agnieszka Rombel-Bryzek¹, Bartosz Bojarski², Paweł Świsłowski³, Mateusz Jakubiak⁴, Iryna Boliukh⁵, Małgorzata Rajfur³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Oleska 48, Opole 45-052, Poland. Electronic address: agarombel@uni.opole.pl.
² Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Arciszewskiego 22b, Słupsk 76-200, Poland.
³ Institute of Biology, University of Opole, Oleska 22, Opole 45-052, Poland.
⁴ Department of Environmental Management and Protection, Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland.
⁵ Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Oleska 48, Opole 45-052, Poland.

PMID: 38657336
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127463

Abstract

Background: Environmental pollution by cadmium (Cd) is currently a common problem in many countries, especially in highly industrialised areas. Cd present in the soil can be absorbed by plants through the root system.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cadmium on the metabolic activity of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) and the accumulation and distribution of Cd in the organs of the plants.

Methods: Cucumber seeds (3 g) were exposed to 0.76, 1.58 or 4.17 mg Cd/L (applied as CdCl₂ solutions). The activity of selected antioxidant enzymes - glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation and the content of photosynthetic pigments were determined in 6-week-old cucumber plants. In addition, intake of Cd has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS).

Results: The results show that the applied cadmium concentrations affected the activity of antioxidant enzymes. An increase in CAT activity and a decrease in SOD activity were observed in all cucumber organs analysed. GSH-Px activity increased in the roots and stems. Surprisingly, GSH-Px activity decreased in the leaves. The level of lipid peroxidation was usually unchanged (the only one statistically significant change was a decrease in the concentration of malondialdehyde in the leaves which was observed after exposure to the highest Cd concentration). The applied Cd concentrations had no effect on the content of photosynthetic pigments. The highest cadmium content was found in the roots of cucumber plants. Cd tends to accumulate in the roots and a small amount was translocated to the stems and leaves, which was confirmed with the translocation factor (TF).

Conclusions: The results indicate that the range of cadmium concentrations used, corresponding to the level of environmental pollution recorded in Europe, effectively activates the antioxidant enzyme system, without intensifying lipid peroxidation or reducing the content of photosynthetic pigments.

Keywords: Biochemical indicators; Cadmium; Contamination; Cucumber; Redox balance.