Influence of Sulfonamide Contamination Derived from Veterinary Antibiotics on Plant Growth and Development

Veterinary antibiotics such as sulfonamides are widely used to increase feed efficiency and to protect against disease in livestock production. The sulfonamide antimicrobial mechanism involves the blocking of folate biosynthesis by inhibiting bacterial dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) activity competitively. Interestingly, most treatment antibiotics can be released into the environment via manure and result in significant diffuse pollution in the environment. However, the physiological effects of sulfonamide during plant growth and development remain elusive because the plant response is dependent on folate biosynthesis and the concentration of antibiotics. Here, we present a chemical interaction docking model between Napa cabbage (Brassica campestris) DHPS and sulfamethoxazole and sulfamethazine, which are the most abundant sulfonamides detected in the environment. Furthermore, seedling growth inhibition was observed in lentil bean (Lens culinaris), rice (Oryza sativa), and Napa cabbage plants upon sulfonamide exposure. The results revealed that sulfonamide antibiotics target plant DHPS in a module similar to bacterial DHPS and affect early growth and the development of crop seedlings. Taking these results together, we suggest that sulfonamides act as pollutants in crop fields.

Chemical Compositions, Phytotoxicity, and Biological Activities of Acorus Calamus Essential Oils from Nepal

Four essential oils from the leaf (P23) and rhizomes (P19, P22, P24) of Acorus calamus L., collected from various parts of Nepal, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. From a total of 61 peaks, 57 compounds were identified among the four essential oils accounting for 94.3%, 96.2%, 97.6%, and 94.1% of the oils, respectively. All of the essential oils were dominated by ( Z)-asarone (78.1%–86.9%). The essential oils also contained ( E)-asarone (1.9%–9.9%) and small amounts of γ-asarone (2.0–2.3%), ( Z)-methyl isoeugenol (1.5–2.0%), and linalool (0.2–4.3%). Allelopathic testing of the rhizome oil showed inhibition of seed germination of Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne with IC50 values of 450 and 737 μg/mL, respectively. The rhizome essential oil demonstrated stronger seedling growth inhibition of L. perenne than of L. sativa, however. The rhizome oil also showed notable brine shrimp lethality ( LC50 = 9.48 μg/mL), cytotoxic activity (92.2% kill on MCF-7 cells at 100 μg/mL), and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC = 19.5 μg/mL).

Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Amomum subulatum Essential Oils from Nepal

The essential oils from the seed and rind of Amomum subulatum Roxb. (collected from Nepal) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 87 components were identified among the two essential oils accounting for 99.1%, and 99.0% of the oils, respectively. The two essential oils were dominated by the monoterpenoids 1,8-cineole (60.8% and 39.0%), α-pinene (6.4% and 4.8%), β-pinene (8.3% and 17.7%), and α-terpineol (9.8% and 12.3%). Allelopathic testing of the seed essential oil showed an inhibition of seed germination of Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne, with IC50 values of 1583 and 1674 μg/mL, respectively. The seed essential oil demonstrated a stronger seedling growth inhibition of L. perenne than of L. sativa. A. subulatum seed and rind oils also showed moderate brine shrimp lethality (LC50 = 28.1 ± 3.0 and 15.0 ± 9.0 μg/mL, respectively). The seed and rind oils were only marginally cytotoxic (20% and 30%% kill on MCF-7 cells at 100 μg/mL, respectively), and antibacterial (MIC ≥ 313 μg/mL), but A subulatum rind oil was appreciably active against the fungus Aspergillus niger (MIC = 19.5 μg/mL). The essential oils of A. subulatum were also screened for nematocidal activity against Caenorhabditis elegans and insecticidal activity against the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta × richteri). The seed oil was only marginally toxic to the fire ant (LC50 = 1500 μg/mL), but moderately toxic to the nematode and the fruit fly (LC50 = 341 and 441 μg/mL, respectively).