Role of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) in mediating heavy metal and pesticide induced oxidative stress in plants: A review

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2018-01, Vol.147, p.935-944
• Main Authors: Shahzad, Babar, Tanveer, Mohsin, Che, Zhao, Rehman, Abdul, Cheema, Sardar Alam, Sharma, Anket, Song, He, Rehman, Shams ur, Zhaorong, Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - metabolism; Brassinosteroids - pharmacology; Crops, Agricultural - drug effects; Crops, Agricultural - metabolism; EBL; Heavy metals; Lipid peroxidation; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Osmo-protection; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pesticide; Pesticides - toxicity; Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; ROS; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Steroids, Heterocyclic - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.09.066

Industrialization and urbanization have posed serious threats to the environment. Excessive release of heavy metals from industrial effluents and overuse of pesticides in modern agriculture are limiting crop production by polluting environment and deteriorating food quality. Sustaining food quality under heavy metals and pesticide stress is crucial to meet the increasing demands for food. 24-Epibrassinolide (EBL), a ubiquitously occurring plant growth hormone shows great potential to alleviate heavy metals and pesticide stress in plants. This review sums up the potential role of EBL in ameliorating heavy metals and pesticide toxicity in plants extensively. EBL application increases plant's overall growth, biomass accumulation and photosynthetic efficiency by the modulation of numerous biochemical and physiological processes under heavy metals and pesticide stress. In addition, EBL scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) by triggering the production of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, POX etc. EBL also induces the production of proline and soluble proteins that helps in maintaining osmotic potential and osmo-protection under both heavy metals and pesticide stress. At the end, future needs of research about the application of 24-epibrassinolide have also been discussed. •Heavy metal pollution and pesticides application is serious concern regarding crop productivity.•24-Epibrassinolide (EBL) is an important brassinosteroid owing marvelous characteristics in mediating abiotic stresses.•EBL regulates antioxidant production under heavy metal stress.•EBL plays highly significant role in pesticide metabolism and detoxification.