Changes in antioxidant potential and sink-organ dry matter with pigment accumulation induced by hexaconazole in Plectranthus forskholii Briq.

An investigation was conducted in Plectranthus forskholii by giving it different concentrations (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg L(-1)) of hexaconazole, a fungicide cum plant-growth regulator, in order to find out its effects on growth, pigment composition, and antioxidant potential. The treatments were given as soil drenching on different growth stages. All the concentrations of hexaconazole used significantly decreased the stem length and leaf area, whereas side branches, fresh and dry matter content, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant potential were increased.

NaCl as a physiological modulator of proline metabolism and antioxidant potential in Phyllanthus amarus.

Some medicinal plants need to be cultivated commercially in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for medicinal plants for the indigenous systems of medicine as well as for the pharmaceutical industry; in this regard, it seems significant to test the important medicinal plants for their salt-tolerance capacity, with a view to exploiting the saline lands for medicinal plant cultivation. Phyllanthus amarus plants were grown in the presence of NaCl in order to study the effect of NaCl (80 mM NaCl) in the induction of oxidative stress in terms of lipid peroxidation (TBARS content), H2O2 content, osmolyte concentration, proline(PRO)-metabolizing enzymes, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Groundwater was used for irrigation of control plants.