Aspirin regulates oxidative stress and physio-biochemical attributes in Brassica juncea under cadmium toxicity

Abstract

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of aspirin (Asp) on growth, physio-biochemical variables, and oxidative stress in Brassica juncea subjected to cadmium toxicity. Cadmium (Cd) toxicity decreased the root and shoot development by 67.53 % and 64.4 % respectively, over the control. However, treatment with Asp showed improved root and shoot growth in Cd treated seedlings. This study demonstrates elevation in total soluble sugar (TSS), proline, and glycine betaine levels and suppressed total protein concentrations in Cd treated seedlings over control. On the treatment of Asp to Cd exposed plants, an enhanced level of the above said variables was reported. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and ascorbate (ASC) increased in plants with Cd stress over control, followed by enhanced elevation of the same on supplementation of Asp. Supplementation of Asp reduces the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2, confirming the plant metals' stress protection properties of Asp. Thus studies confirm aspirin's involvement in protecting plant growth and development against cadmium toxicity.