The effect of some nanoparticles on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and parthenolide yield of Feverfew plant (Tanacetum parthenium L.) under water deficit stress

Introduction The Feverfew plant, Tanacetum parthenium L, is a two or more perennial herb, with a direct stem and longitudinal grooves of 30 to 80 cm in height. Due to the importance of the role of antioxidant enzymes in protecting plant cells against oxidation stress caused by adverse environmental conditions, the activity of a group of these enzymes in the pre-flowering stage under the influence of Water dificit stress and spraying of nanoparticles of silver and Iron nanochelate was studied. Materials and methods In this research was done to investigate the effects of Nano-iron spray, the chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles and the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles on antioxidant enzyme activities and total protein of chamomile plant. It was done in the form of a completely random factorial design with three replications in the greenhouse of the agricultural college of Zabol university. The treatments included the first factor, Water dificit stress in two levels (non-stress and moderate stress, %50 of the field capacity) and the second one included nanoparticles in three levels of Nano-iron, the chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles and the green synthesis with the density of 30ppm and one non-Nano level. To investigate the activity of catalase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes, a sampling of completely young and extensive leaves was performed after the last spraying, and according to the available protocols, their activity was measured. The total protein concentration measured by Bradford method and the amount of the parthenolide active substance were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results and discussion  The results of variance analysis indicate the effect of water dificit stress on all studied properties are significant at 1% level. Foliar application of nanoparticles also had a significant and positive effect on the studied characteristics. In general, it can be stated that nanosilver of chemical synthesis under drought stress conditions has increased catalase and peroxidase (2.4266 and 0.2872 respectivly) and iron nanochelate under drought stress conditions has increased guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes (0.5452 and 1.2273 respectivly). the total protein content has increased through the spraying of solution of Silver nanoparticle chemical synthesis and iron nano chelate without water dificit stress and the maximum economical performance of chamomile plant (The amount of pathenolide) has increased with green synthesis of nano silver spray under water dificit stress. In general it can be stated that the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes under drought stress are the effects of enzymatic activity of Feverfew to control the production of reactive oxygen radicals which prevents oxidative damage and reduces the growth. On the other hand, it is likely that the decrease in the activity of these enzymes is due to less requirement of cell for antioxidant metabolism after treatment with nanoparticles. Nanoparticles may also be directly involved in the elimination of free radicals and, by purifying these reactive oxygen species, prevent the increase of enzyme activity. Therefore it can be stated that Feverfew plant can eliminate the production of free radicals and provide viability of the plant under the dehydration stress through a strong enzymatic system and the production of oxidative enzymes.