Selenium improves the medicinal safety and quality of Bletilla striata by promoting the fixation of cadmium in root: Pot and field experiments

Na Li; Li Yang; Kuiwei Chen; Yuchen Kang; Yuan Cao; Hengwei Du; Haiyan Mou; Hui Sun; Tianqi Ao; Wenqing Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132275

Selenium improves the medicinal safety and quality of Bletilla striata by promoting the fixation of cadmium in root: Pot and field experiments

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Oct 5:459:132275. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132275. Epub 2023 Aug 12.

Authors

Na Li¹, Li Yang², Kuiwei Chen¹, Yuchen Kang¹, Yuan Cao¹, Hengwei Du³, Haiyan Mou⁴, Hui Sun¹, Tianqi Ao⁵, Wenqing Chen⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
² College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Key Laboratory of the Evaluation and Monitoring of Southwest Land Resources (Ministry of Education), Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China.
³ College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Key Laboratory of the Evaluation and Monitoring of Southwest Land Resources (Ministry of Education), Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China.
⁴ College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu 610065, China. Electronic address: mouhaiyan@scu.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
⁶ College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China. Electronic address: chenwenqingsc@163.com.

PMID: 37579717
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132275

Abstract

Soil cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a considerable threat to the safe production of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China. The tubers of Bletilla striata, a precious TCM, are widely used to treat various ailments. However, the medicinal safety and quality of tubers are significantly affected by high Cd accumulation. While selenium (Se) is known to reduce Cd concentration in traditional crops, its impact on Cd content in medicinal parts and overall quality remains underexplored. To bridge the gap, a pot experiment and field validation were conducted to determine the effectiveness of foliar Se application. The results revealed that Se effectively counteracted Cd damage. Compared to Cd treatment alone, Se at 1.5 mg L^-1 significantly decreased Cd content by 46.33 %, increased the biomass by 21.48 %, and raised the total phenolic, flavonoid, saponin, and polysaccharide contents by 46.31 %, 30.46 %, 27.08 %, and 29.01 %, respectively, in tubers. Furthermore, this study explored the mechanism of Se action. Se facilitated Cd accumulation in root cell walls and soluble fractions, enhanced the synthesis of phytochelatins (PC), and stored them in the form of PC-Cd complexes. These findings have profound implications for the cultivation of TCM, ensuring its safety, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: Bioactive compounds; Cadmium; Phytochelatins; Selenium; Subcellular distribution.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Cadmium / analysis
Cadmium / toxicity
Environmental Pollution
Oryza*
Selenium*
Soil
Soil Pollutants* / analysis

Substances

Selenium
Cadmium
Soil Pollutants
Soil