Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles-induced reactive oxygen species: Phytotoxicity and detoxification mechanisms in plant cell

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2024-08, Vol.213, p.108847, Article 108847
• Main Authors: Hatami, Mehrnaz, Ghorbanpour, Mansour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - metabolism; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Nanoparticles; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxides - toxicity; Plant Cells - drug effects; Plant Cells - metabolism; Plants - drug effects; Plants - metabolism; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Scavenging; Signaling molecules; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108847

Nanotechnology is advancing rapidly in this century and the industrial use of nanoparticles for new applications in the modernization of different industries such as agriculture, electronic, food, energy, environment, healthcare and medicine is growing exponentially. Despite applications of several nanoparticles in different industries, they show harmful effects on biological systems, especially in plants. Various mechanisms for the toxic effects of nanoparticles have already been proposed; however, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules including radicals [(e.g., superoxide (O2•‒), peroxyl (HOO•), and hydroxyl (HO•) and non-radicals [(e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and singlet oxygen (1O2) is more important. Excessive production/and accumulation of ROS in cells and subsequent induction of oxidative stress disrupts the normal functioning of physiological processes and cellular redox reactions. Some of the consequences of ROS overproduction include peroxidation of lipids, changes in protein structure, DNA strand breaks, mitochondrial damage, and cell death. Key enzymatic antioxidants with ROS scavenging ability comprised of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR), and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems including alpha-tocopherol, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, ascorbate, and glutathione play vital role in detoxification and maintaining plant health by balancing redox reactions and reducing the level of ROS. This review provides compelling evidence that phytotoxicity of nanoparticles, is mainly caused by overproduction of ROS after exposure. In addition, the present review also summarizes the intrinsic detoxification mechanisms in plants in response to nanoparticles accumulation within plant cells. •Various mechanisms for the toxic effects of NPs have been proposed.•Overproduction of ROS and induction of oxidative burst disrupt the physiological processes and homeostasis.•The generation of ROS are highly related to NPs characteristics and type of plant species.•Key antioxidant systems play vital role in detoxification and maintaining plant health by balancing redox reactions.