ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Changes in Antioxidant Enzyme Activities
of European Mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp.
Album) Leaves as a Response to Environmental
Stress Caused by Pollution of the Atmosphere
by Nitrogen Dioxide
Jacek Patykowski1, Jeremi Kołodziejek2
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1Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection,
University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
2Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz,
Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Submission date: 2014-09-10
Final revision date: 2015-11-24
Acceptance date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(2):725-732
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ABSTRACT
In the present study we investigated the seasonal pattern of activity of antioxidant enzymes such as
superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and
syringaldazine peroxidase (SPOD) as well as the total protein concentration in the European mistletoe
(Viscum album L. subsp. album). We studied mistletoe leaves that grew on the selected tree species in
different parts the city of Lodz, exposed to a greater or lesser extent to the nitrogen dioxide. Sampling
campaigns were conducted during the growing season 2013 in early May (at the beginning of the growing
season) and in November (at the end of the growing season). We showed considerable seasonal variations
of antioxidant enzymatic activity and total protein concentrations for all the samples studied. The test
parameters varied depending on the host plants exposition to pollution with nitrogen dioxide. The changes
in enzymatic activity did not depend on the host plants. In mistletoe leaves greater changes of SOD activity
and total protein concentration were observed in autumn. There is correlation between the level of nitrogen
dioxide in atmosphere and activities the enzymes. SOD activity was signifi cantly higher in autumn when
the host plants were defoliated. Increased CAT activity was observed in late spring. We demonstrated the
positive correlation between changes in enzyme activities and the progress of growing season. Increased
activities of POD, CAT and APX to a limited extent depended on the place of growing and exposition
to air pollution. In late spring activity of the enzymes did not signifi cant grow because of the protective
umbrella from host plant leaves preventing the access of nitrogen dioxide to mistletoe. The higher SOD
activity in mistletoe is a consequence of oxidative stress causes by nitrogen dioxides evidently observed in
the city center. The test parameters, mainly the activity of SOD, can be used in the future as markers of the environment purity, especially in the autumn and winter when the temperatures are above freezing, and there
are no leaves on the trees.