Hormesis and plant biology

Environ Pollut. 2009 Jan;157(1):42-8. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.028. Epub 2008 Sep 14.

Abstract

A database has been developed that demonstrates experimental evidence of hormesis. It includes information from a broad range of biological models, including plants, and information on study design, dose-response features, and physical/chemical properties of the agents. An assessment of plant hormetic dose responses is presented based on greater than 3000 plant endpoints. Plant hormetic dose responses were observed for numerous endpoints including disease incidence, reproductive indices, mutagenic endpoints, various metabolic parameters, developmental processes, and a range of growth indicators. Quantitative features of these dose responses typically display a maximum stimulatory response less than two-fold greater than controls and a width of the stimulatory response usually less than 10-fold in dose range. The database establishes that hormetic dose responses commonly occur in plants, are broadly generalizable, and have quantitative features similar to hormetic dose responses found for animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Databases, Factual*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug*
  • No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
  • Plant Development
  • Plants / drug effects*
  • Soil Pollutants / pharmacology
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Stimulation, Chemical

Substances

  • Soil Pollutants