The effect of cadmium on atropin content and the physiological parameters in Datura stramonium L.

Application of non-bio-stimulants is one of solutions to quantitative and qualitative changes in secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Cadmium in plant reduces photosynthesis and respiration, decrease the metabolism of carbohydrates, causes cholorosis and decreases growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cadmium concentrations on photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanin, proline, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and atropine production in Datura stramonium L. The plants were cultured in perlite contained pots. Then plants were treated with different concentrations of Cd (0,1, 5,15 and 50 mg/L) for 2 weeks to measure physiological parameters and for 12 weeks to determine the amount of atropine. With increasing Cd concentration in solution media and photosynthetic pigments were significantly decrease. Also, the results indicated that the amount of anthocyanin, soluble and reduction carbohydrate and proline were significantly increased in most treatments up to 62/7%, 40/5%, 31/5%, 56/7%, respectively. Cadmium also increased the amount of atropine. The cadmium as a non-biological stress leads to increased plant defense mechanisms, including carbohydrate and proline and secondary metabolites of anthocyanin photosynthetic pigment and tropane alkaloids (atropine).