Cadmium phytoextraction capacity of white lupine ( Lupinus albus L.) and narrow-leafed lupine ( Lupinus angustifolius L.) in three contrasting agroclimatic conditions of Chile

The phytoextraction process implies the use of plants to promote the elimination of metal contaminants in the soil. In fact, metal-accumulating plants are planted or transplanted in metal-contaminated soil and cultivated in accordance with established agricultural practices. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the productivity and Cd phytoextraction capacity of white lupine ( Lupinus albus L.) and narrow-leafed lupine ( Lupinus angustifolius L.), as well as the effect on residual Cd concentration in the soil. Both species of lupines were grown at three CdCl2 rates (0, 1, and 2 mg kg-1), under three agroclimatic conditions in Chile in 2013. In the arid zone (Pan de Azúcar, 73 mm precipitation), narrow-leafed lupine production was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than white lupine (4.55 vs. 3.26 Mg DM ha-1, respectively). In locations with higher precipitation (Santa Rosa, 670 mm; Carillanca, 880 mm), narrow-leafed lupine DM production was slightly higher than in Pan de Azúcar, but white lupine was approximately three times higher. Total plant Cd concentrations in white and narrow-leafed lupine increased as Cd rates increased in the three environments, but they were much higher in narrow-leafed lupine than white lupine; 150%, 58%, and 344% higher in Pan de Azúcar, Santa Rosa, and Carillanca, respectively. Cadmium uptake (g Cd ha-1) and apparent recovery were also higher (P < 0.05) in narrow-leafed lupine in two environments (Pan de Azúcar and Carillanca). These results suggest that narrow-leafed lupine present higher potential as phytoremediation species than white lupine.

Anti-cancer and antioxidant properties of phenolics isolated from Toona sinensis A Juss acetone leaf extract

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant and anticancer activities of phenolics from the leaf extract of Toona sinensis (TS). Methods: Acetone leaf extract of TS was screened for total phenolic and flavanoid contents, and the flanonoids were subjected to high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. Antioxidant properties were assessed via oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), while anti-proliferative activity ins HepG2 cell line was assessed using methylene blue assay. Results: The extract contained 36.02 ± 0.24 mg of gallic acid equiv/g dry weight (DW) and 20.24 ± 1.73 mg of catechin equiv/g DW of total phenolic and total flavonoid, respectively. The levels of rutin and quercitrin were 0.51 and 19.55 mg/g, respectively. Epicatechin, gallic acid, quercitin, isoquercetin were not detected. The extract showed significant antioxidant potential and high anti-proliferation capacity with low cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell in vitro. The underlying mechanism of anti-proliferative effect was induction of apoptosis. Conclusion: TS leaf extract possesses significant in vitro antioxidant properties and anti-proliferative effect against HepG2 cells, which make it a potential anticancer drug source.