The document reviews the role of phytoindicators as bioaccumulators for environmental protection and pollution prevention, focusing on their mechanisms of action. It discusses the significance of certain plants, such as peepal and neem, in assessing pollution levels and indicators of environmental health. Additionally, it details the physiological changes in plants due to toxic pollutants and the mechanisms through which they detoxify harmful substances.

1. SMART WONDERS
OF
BIOACCUMULATORS
POLLUTANT SOAKING PLANTS
(PHYTOINDICATORS)
&
MYSTERIES BEHIND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

2. Government College of Pharmacy
Amravati-444604.(M.S.) INDIA.
Nikam S.J*, Bhojane G.S.
Yawale M.J., Raut R.R.

3. Objective :-
reviewed enquiry of phytoindicators at molecular level
as bioaccumulators for environmental protection
role in pollution prevention with mechanism of action.
why we save valuable plants from utter destruction ?

4. Why ? Topic
-On both side of roads we see trees in series
-Why certain trees like Peepal, Bel, Pakur,
Bargad, Neem have been worshipped
from times immemorial ?

5. Pollutant soaking plants
-plants that have ability to assess levels of pollution.
-serve as index of state of environmental of particular
region.
-Shows acute injury with externally visible symptoms in
presence of high toxic pollutants.
-indicative phenomena :-
Bio-indication

6. Retains toxic pollutants/metabolic products of
plant-pollutant interaction in their bodies
Scavengers
Pollution mitigator plants Bioaccumulators
Phytoremediation

7. Symptoms
Chlorosis (yellowing/whitening of green plants tissues due to ↓
chlorophyll)
Necrosis (death of cells/tissues by disease )
Deformities of plants organs & ultimately death.
Physiological changes
Low photosynthetic activity
Changes in cell sap pH & membrane permeability
Low growth rate & crop yield
Stimulation of respiration & irregularity in enzyme action.

8. Parameters to select good phytoindicators
(in ecosystem)
1)Survival
2)Mortality
3)Pollutant uptake
Efficiency varies with ecotypes b’coz diff. in geographical
& climatic conditions.
Ideal Properties of indicators:-
Relatively easy to understand by non-scientists & other users.
Sensitive to manageable human activity.
Relatively tightly linked in space & time to that activity.
Easily & accurately measured, with a low error rate.

9. How ?
During uptake of essential nutrients through roots, absorbs
metallic, non-metallic wastes, different toxic chemicals (PPCP),
heavy metals (Cu ++,Zn++, Cd, Ag, Pb, Hg), inorganic biocides
accumulated in stable plant parts (root/shoot)
Phytoindicators
Phytochelatins Metallothioneins
sulphur containing polypeptides of low mol.wt.
Designed by TheTemplateMart.com

10. Phytochelatins
-group of proteins that inducible when they are faced
with heavy metal stress.
-Algae, Gymnosperms ,Monocots, Dicots Cd ++
-Cysteine, Glycine, Glutamic acid
y-(GluCys)n-Gly conformation y-carboxylamide bond
PCs r no direct result of expression of metal tolerance gene
A product of biosynthetic pathway with glutathione ( detoxifying
agent)

11. Ultra structure of Phytochelatins
Fig.1-Phytochelatins bind to metal ions & transport oxidized metal
to vacuoles for storage

12. Metallothioneins
-similar proteins to PCs with high no. of cysteine molecules in
proteins
Characteristics
low mol.wt.
large fraction of cysteine residue
Cu ++
-high metal content in metal- thiolate clusters

13. Ultra structure of Metallothioneins
Fig.2-Metallothioneins bind metal ions for transport to
deficient parts

14. Generalized Synthesis of Phytochelatins
Heavy Metals e.g. Cd ++
+
Plants
Glutathione substrate
Phytochelatin Synthase
PCs (Phytochelatins)
Continues untill all metals r complexed

15. Glutamine & Cysteine
Cd ++
y-glutamylcysteine
y-GluCys
Glutathione synthase
Vacuole
Glutathione (GSH) +
Cd ++
Phytochelatin
synthase(Cad1)
+
PCs + Cd ++
Sulfides
↓ PC-Cd complexes
↑CdS -PC complexes

16. Air Purifiers/Pollutant Soaking Plants
Peepal (Ficus rligiosa) Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna)
Bel (Aegle marmelos) Makhan katori (Ficus krishnae)
Neem (Azadirachta Kadam (Anthocephalus cadamba )
indica),
Weeds
Amaranthus graecizans
Argemone mexicana
Boerhaavia diffusa

17. Acknowledgement
The authors expresses their sincere gratitude towards
Respected
Mr. Dinesh Gandhi Sir
Mr. Rahul Akotkar Sir
Mr. Vijay Waghulkar Sir
for giving their valuable time for work.

18. References
Dipanjan Ghosh: Science Reporter; NISCAIR, (CSIR), Vol. 43,
No.6, June 2006.
Cobbett CS: Phytochelatins and their roles in heavy metal
detoxification. Plant Physiol 123: (2000) 825−832
Clemens S: Molecular mechanisms of plant metal tolerance and
homeostasis. Planta(2001) 212: 475−486