Growth of the autochthonous vegetables under stress conditions induced by NSAIDs; evaluation of their influences on certain
photosynthetic parameters and emission of the volatileorganic compounds (12/2018)
O.1.1. Establishing of an experimental model regarding the growth of selected autochthonous vegetables treated with the selected NSAIDs
A.1.1.1. Sowing and growth of lettuce, spinach, and orache in growth plant chamber – control vegetables and treated with different concentrations of NSAIDs
O.1.2. Monitoring the foliage photosynthetic characteristics of the studied vegetables
A.1.2.1. Measurements of leaf gas exchange characteristics using a Portable Gas Exchange Fluorescence System GFS-3000
O.1.3. Monitoring the emission of volatile organic compounds from the selected vegetables
A.1.3.1. VOCs sampling using a Portable Gas Exchange Fluorescence System GFS-3000
A.1.3.2.VOCs (LOX and monoterpenes) determination by GC-MS and TD system
O.1.4. Evaluation of the vegetables leaf anatomy
A.1.4.1. Structural and morphological analyses on studied vegetables by TEM
O.1.5. Data analysis
A.1.5.1. Statistical and comparative interpretation of the obtained results
A.1.5.2. Results dissemination
Results:
Activity report 2018The results obtained in this stage (May – December 2018) of the project are summarized below:
- NSAIDs affected the green leafy vegetable’s photosynthetic parameters and influence the metabolic pathways;
- VOCs emission rates were the most sensitive indicator of the stress induced by the NSAIDs to green leafy vegetables; The increase of the VOCs emission rate with the increase of the NSAIDs concentration can be employed as a stress signal of the plants or as a biomarker;
- Microscopic analysis showed that Atriplex patula L. leaves seemed to be the most affected by naproxen, and Lactuca sativa L. and Spinacia oleracea L. by ibuprofen, and none of them showed significant modifications induced by diclofenac, even though they were affected at a lower level;
- All leaves had the chloroplasts affected, which may suggest that these drugs induce a harmful effect on the vegetables.
Evaluation the influence of the NSAIDs on non-volatile secondary metabolites and the antioxidant capacity of the selected vegetables,
(12/2019)
O.2.1. Quantitative evaluation of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), polyphenolic compounds (total flavonoids and total polyphenols), vitamin C, and determination of the antioxidant capacity of the studied vegetables
A.2.1.1. Extraction and analysis of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) from the control and treated vegetables using HPLC-DAD/MS
A.2.1.2. Extraction and analysis of the total flavonoids and polyphenols from the control and treated vegetables using UV-Vis spectroscopy
A.2.1.3. Extraction and analysis of vitamin C from the control and treated vegetables using HPLC-DAD/MS
O.2.2. Data analysis and results dissemination
A.2.2.1. Statistical and comparative interpretation of the obtained results
A.2.2.2. Results dissemination
Results:
Activity report 2019The results obtained in this stage (January – December 2019) of the project are summarized below:
- The vegetables exposure to NSAIDs resulted in a reduction of chlorophylls, carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids in a dose-dependent manner;
- The decrease of the antioxidant capacity was correlated with the decrease of the content of ß-carotene, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids;
Determination of the NSAIDs amount accumulated in the studied vegetables, and soil respectively (04/2020)
O.3.1. Establishing of the analysis method for the separation, identification and quantitative evaluation of the NSAIDs using HPLC technique
A.3.1.1. Method development for the analysis of the NSAIDs standard solutions using HPLC-MS/DAD
O.3.2. Optimization method for isolation/concentration of NSAIDs accumulated in the selected vegetables, and soil respectively
A.3.2.1. Optimization methods for the extraction of the NSAIDs from the treated vegetable and accumulated in soil using Box-Benhken experimental design
A.3.2.2. Establishing of the most efficient method for the extraction of NSAIDs accumulated in the treated plants, and soil respectively
O.3.3. Determination of the NSAIDs content accumulated in the treated vegetables, and soil respectively
A.3.3.1. Analysis of the NSAIDs extracts obtained from vegetables and soil using the established HPLC-DAD/MS method
O.3.4. Data analysis and results dissemination
A.3.4.1. Statistical and comparative interpretation of the obtained results
A.3.4.2. Results dissemination
Results:
Activity report 2020The results obtained in this stage (January – April 2020) of the project are summarized below:
- According to the working protocols established during this stage of the project, the selected NSAIDs were extracted and analyzed from green leafy vegetables (Atriplex patula L., Spinacia oleracea L. and Lactuca sativa L.) and from their soil;
- NSAIDs can accumulate in vegetable tissues and have harmful effects;
- Ibuprofen and naproxen were determined in the analyzed leaf samples;
- All three selected NSAIDs for this study were determined in the soil samples. Their concentrations ranged from 0.38 μg g-1 soil to 9.00 μg g-1 soil.