even showed efficient antitumoral capacity (Ksouri et al. 2009; Boulaaba et al. 2013,
2015; Bettaib et al. 2017). This species is further investigated for its cytoprotective
effect against oxidative stress. In fact, phenolics, flavonoids tannins, and
anthocyanidins can delay the lipids and proteins oxidation by inhibiting the initiation
and propagation of oxidative chain reaction, than they may prevent or repair cell
damage caused by oxygen (Bettaib et al. 2017; Kumar et al. 2019). Moreover,
Bettaib et al. (2017) evaluated T. gallica total phenolic amount and their antioxidant
capacities. They recorded à high phenol level (132.5 mg Gallic Acid Extract.
g
À1 T. gallica Dry Weight), with strong total antioxidant activity (107.7 mg Gallic
Acid Extract.g
À1 T. gallica Dry Weight). That suggests a close relationship between
phenolic amounts and antioxidant capacities in T. gallica aerial parts. However,
T. gallica methanolic extract provides protection against liver carcinogenesis, which
might be mediated by multiple actions including restoration of cellular antioxidant
enzymes, detoxifying enzymes, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and DNA synthesis (Bettaib et al. 2017). Kaempferide is an important flavonoid in T. gallica aerial
part (Saoud Orfali 2005), it was proven that it maintains catalase activity in normal
level under H 2 O 2 elevated concentration, which suggests the biological strategies
employed by T. gallica to alleviate abiotic stress by exceeding secretion of
flavonoids (Boulaaba et al. 2015; Bettaib et al. 2017; Kumar et al. 2019).
14.5.3 Biochemical Adaptation Strategy of T. gallica to Metals
Elements Pollution
It was reported by Sghaier et al. (2015) that T. gallica is a tolerant plant to trace
metals elements, which are associated with their salt-tolerance characteristics. In
fact, Belhadj-Sgheir et al. (2019) noted that T. gallica accumulated 92 and 94 μg.g
À1
of Arsenic respectively in shoots and roots. For that, he is not considered as an
accumulator plants because these one must accumulate at least 1000 μg.g
À1 . T. gallica is considered as an Arsenic-tolerant plant, when the presence of salt gland may
play a role in this tolerance. The highest concentration of toxic metals is stored in
T. gallica shoots, while the root system is considered as the dominant absorption
path for metals (Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019). Contrary to other halophytes, T. gallica
manifested no difference in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters when it was
exposed to high arsenic concentration. They manifest only an increase in the energy
dissipation fluxes (Sghaier et al. 2015). Suggesting the suitable mechanism adopted
by T. gallica to cope with the excess of trace metals elements (Belhadj-Sgheir et al.
2019). The complexity of T. gallica adaptation mechanisms to excess metals
elements is schematized in Fig. 14.11. It was proven that T. gallica accumulates
more than 70% of arsenic in the polysaccharides fraction of leaves cells wall, while a
small amount accumulated in the protein fraction and in the intracellular central part
of the cells. In addition, arsenic ions were distributed at similar concentration in the
different polysaccharide, aqueous and protein fractions (Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019).
That suggested the existing balance between the different parts of cell wall as
strategy to avoid arsenic toxicity in T. gallica cell.
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
425
2015; Bettaib et al. 2017). This species is further investigated for its cytoprotective
effect against oxidative stress. In fact, phenolics, flavonoids tannins, and
anthocyanidins can delay the lipids and proteins oxidation by inhibiting the initiation
and propagation of oxidative chain reaction, than they may prevent or repair cell
damage caused by oxygen (Bettaib et al. 2017; Kumar et al. 2019). Moreover,
Bettaib et al. (2017) evaluated T. gallica total phenolic amount and their antioxidant
capacities. They recorded à high phenol level (132.5 mg Gallic Acid Extract.
g
À1 T. gallica Dry Weight), with strong total antioxidant activity (107.7 mg Gallic
Acid Extract.g
À1 T. gallica Dry Weight). That suggests a close relationship between
phenolic amounts and antioxidant capacities in T. gallica aerial parts. However,
T. gallica methanolic extract provides protection against liver carcinogenesis, which
might be mediated by multiple actions including restoration of cellular antioxidant
enzymes, detoxifying enzymes, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and DNA synthesis (Bettaib et al. 2017). Kaempferide is an important flavonoid in T. gallica aerial
part (Saoud Orfali 2005), it was proven that it maintains catalase activity in normal
level under H 2 O 2 elevated concentration, which suggests the biological strategies
employed by T. gallica to alleviate abiotic stress by exceeding secretion of
flavonoids (Boulaaba et al. 2015; Bettaib et al. 2017; Kumar et al. 2019).
14.5.3 Biochemical Adaptation Strategy of T. gallica to Metals
Elements Pollution
It was reported by Sghaier et al. (2015) that T. gallica is a tolerant plant to trace
metals elements, which are associated with their salt-tolerance characteristics. In
fact, Belhadj-Sgheir et al. (2019) noted that T. gallica accumulated 92 and 94 μg.g
À1
of Arsenic respectively in shoots and roots. For that, he is not considered as an
accumulator plants because these one must accumulate at least 1000 μg.g
À1 . T. gallica is considered as an Arsenic-tolerant plant, when the presence of salt gland may
play a role in this tolerance. The highest concentration of toxic metals is stored in
T. gallica shoots, while the root system is considered as the dominant absorption
path for metals (Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019). Contrary to other halophytes, T. gallica
manifested no difference in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters when it was
exposed to high arsenic concentration. They manifest only an increase in the energy
dissipation fluxes (Sghaier et al. 2015). Suggesting the suitable mechanism adopted
by T. gallica to cope with the excess of trace metals elements (Belhadj-Sgheir et al.
2019). The complexity of T. gallica adaptation mechanisms to excess metals
elements is schematized in Fig. 14.11. It was proven that T. gallica accumulates
more than 70% of arsenic in the polysaccharides fraction of leaves cells wall, while a
small amount accumulated in the protein fraction and in the intracellular central part
of the cells. In addition, arsenic ions were distributed at similar concentration in the
different polysaccharide, aqueous and protein fractions (Belhadj-Sgheir et al. 2019).
That suggested the existing balance between the different parts of cell wall as
strategy to avoid arsenic toxicity in T. gallica cell.
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
425