title: Mechanism of artemisinin phytotoxicity action: induction of reactive oxygen species and cell death in lettuce seedlings.
abstract: Artemisinin has been recognized as an allelochemical that inhibits growth of several plant species. However, its mode of action is not well clarified. In this study, the mechanism of artemisinin phytotoxicity on lettuce seedlings was investigated. Root and shoot elongation of lettuce seedlings were inhibited by artemisinin in a concentration-dependent manner. The compound effectively arrested cell division and caused loss of cell viability in root tips of lettuce. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was induced by artemisinin. Lipid peroxidation, proline overproduction and reduction of chlorophyll content in lettuce seedlings were found after treatments. These results suggested that artemisinin could induce ROS overproduction, which caused membrane lipids peroxidation and cell death, and impacted mitosis and physiological processes, resulting in growth inhibition of receptor plants.
authors: Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources of CAS and Key Laboratory for Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors: Zhi-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Yan
authors: College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
authors: Dan-Dan
authors: DD
authors: Wang
authors: College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Ding
authors: Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources of CAS and Key Laboratory for Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors: Hai-Yan
authors: HY
authors: Cui
authors: Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources of CAS and Key Laboratory for Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Tobacco Diseases and Insect Pests Monitoring Controlling and Integrated Management, Institute of Tobacco Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Jin
authors: Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources of CAS and Key Laboratory for Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors: Xiao-Yan
authors: XY
authors: Yang
authors: College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
authors: Jian-She
authors: JS
authors: Yang
authors: Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources of CAS and Key Laboratory for Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: bqin@licp.cas.cn.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D064089:Allelopathy; D019306:Artemisia; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016923:Cell Death; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018519:Meristem / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037621:Artemisinins; D010675:Pheromones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002734:Chlorophyll; D011392:Proline; C031327:artemisinin
keywords: Artemisinin; Cell viability; Lettuce; Mitosis; Phytotoxicity; Reactive oxygen species