Toxic Effects of cadmium on Essential Oil Composition, and expression of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of menthol and menthofuran in Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.)

Cadmium is one of the heavy metals whose presence in soil induces oxidative stress in plants. This investigation was conducted to determine the modifications in the expression of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of Menthol and Menthofuran, two significant components of peppermint’s essential oil, was measured. To the best of our knowledge, the expression of peppermint genes under heavy metals stress was measured for the first time in this research. The chemical composition of its essential oil, that makes peppermint a valuable herb, was also analyzed to determine the percentages of the principal constituents. Menthol content dropped and menthofuran concentration incremented by augmenting Cd together with pulegone. Increasing Cd amount in the soil was also followed by a reduction in the expression of MR and PR genes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cadmium toxicity ، Menthone reductase ، Menthofuran synthase ، Pulegone reductase ، Menthol ، Menthofuran