Comparative Biochemical and Antioxidant Responses of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees and Solanum xanthocarpum under Cadmium and Sodium Stress Schrad. & Wendl.
Richa Singh* and 1Arvind Singh
*,1Department of Botany, T.D.P.G. College Jaunpur - 222002 (India) Affiliated to VBSPU, Jaunpur (India) Corresponding author- Richa singh
ABSTRACT
Two primary environmental stresses that have a major impact on plant development, metabolism, and productivity are salt and heavy metal contamination. Excess sodium (Naz ) and cadmium (Cd) poisoning upset cellular homeostasis, cause oxidative stress, and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. Although medicinal plants like Solanum xanthocarpum and Andrographis paniculata have significant therapeutic qualities, little is known about how they react physiologically and biochemically to abiotic stress. The goal of this study is to compare the biochemical and antioxidant reactions of these two species of medicinal plants under conditions of salt and cadmium stress.Numerous biochemical markers, including as protein levels, lipid peroxidation, and chlorophyll content, are changed by exposure to cadmium and sodium stress. Additionally, by producing more reactive oxygen species, these stresses exacerbate oxidative damage. Plants use their antioxidant defense systems, which include both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), to combat such stress. Comparative investigation indicates that the two species’ varied levels of stress tolerance are caused by differences in antioxidant enzyme activity and biochemical modifications.These medicinal plants’ adaptive responses and potential resistance under environmental stress circumstances can be better understood by comprehending the stress-induced biochemical and antioxidant pathways in these plants. In addition to increasing the pharmacological value of medicinal plants, this information may help improve their cultivation and conservation in contaminated or saline soils.