Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. is a medicinal plant with a wide range of pharmacological properties that have been used in various medicinal preparations for centuries. M. pruriens is a rich source of levodopa (L-DOPA), mainly used to treat Parkinson’s disease. The present study investigates the impact of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) on the growth parameters and biochemical characteristics, including the L-DOPA content of M. pruriens. The seeds of M. pruriens were treated with different concentrations of Cd (0–250 ppm), Hg (0–250 ppm), and Pb (0–2000 ppm) for 21 days. On exposure to heavy metals, the germination %, the vegetative growth, and the biochemical characteristics such as the protein, carbohydrate, chlorophyll, total phenol, flavonoid, and proline content varied significantly in the heavy metal-treated plants when compared to control. It was also observed that the L-DOPA content increased with increased metal concentration and then decreased further with higher concentration of metals. The metal accumulation increased with the increase in the metal concentration. The seeds treated with 1000 ppm of Pb showed the highest L-DOPA content compared with control and other treatments.
Key words: Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC, Levodopa (L-DOPA), Heavy metal stress, defense, bioaccumulation
|
