title: Essential oil of Artemisia scoparia inhibits plant growth by generating reactive oxygen species and causing oxidative damage.
abstract: We investigated the chemical composition and phytotoxicity of the essential oil extracted from leaves of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit. (red stem wormwood, Asteraceae). GC/GC-MS analyses revealed 33 chemical constituents representing 99.83% of the oil. The oil, in general, was rich in monoterpenes that constitute 71.6%, with beta-myrcene (29.27%) as the major constituent followed by (+)-limonene (13.3%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (13.37%), and gamma-terpinene (9.51%). The oil and beta-myrcene were evaluated in a dose-response bioassay under laboratory conditions for phytotoxicity against three weeds-Avena fatua, Cyperus rotundus, and Phalaris minor. A significant reduction in germination, seedling growth, and dry matter accumulation was observed in the test weeds. At the lowest treatment of 0.07 mg/ml Artemisia oil, germination was reduced by 39%, 19%, and 10.6% in C. rotundus, P. minor, and A. fatua, respectively. However, the inhibitory effect of beta-myrcene was less. In general, a dose-dependent effect was observed and the growth declined with increasing concentration. Among the three weeds, the inhibitory effect was greatest on C. rotundus, so it was selected for further studies. We explored the explanation for observed growth inhibition in terms of reactive oxygen species (ROS: lipid peroxidation, membrane integrity, and amounts of conjugated dienes and hydrogen peroxide)-induced oxidative stress. Exposure of C. rotundus to Artemisia oil or beta-myrcene enhanced solute leakage, indicating membrane disintegration. There were increased levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, indicating lipid peroxidation and induction of oxidative stress. We conclude that Artemisia oil inhibits plant root growth through generation of ROS-induced oxidative damage.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. hpsingh_01@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Harminder Pal
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shalinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Daizy Rani
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Batish
authors.forename: Ravinder Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kohli
mesh_terms: D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010938:Plant Oils; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species