Identification of Pelargonium radula as bioindicator for mercury (Hg) detection confers a new hope for monitoring the safety of drinking water consumption. Hg, like other non-essential metals, inflicts the deterioration of biological functions in human and other creatures. In the present study, effects of Hg on the physiology and biochemical content of P. radula were undertaken to understand the occurrence of the morphological changes observed. Young leaves of P. radula were treated with different concentrations of Hg-containing solution (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ppb) along with controls for 4 h, prior to further analysis. Elevated Hg concentration in treatment solution significantly prompted an increased accumulation of Hg in the leaf tissues. Meanwhile, total protein, chlorophyll and low molecular mass thiol contents (cysteine, glutathione and oxidized glutathione) decreased as Hg accumulation increased. However, phytochelatin 2 productions were induced in the treated leaves, in comparison to the control. Based on these findings, it is postulated that as low as 0.5 ppb of Hg interferes with the metabolic processes of plant cells, which was reflected from the morphological changes exhibited on P. radula leaves-the colour of the Hg-treated leaves changed from green to yellowish-brown, became chlorosis and wilted. Changes in the tested characteristics of plant are closely related to the Hg-induced morphological changes on P. radula leaves, a potential bioindicator for detecting Hg in drinking water.
Deer antler velvet (DAV) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine, including treatment on toothache [1]. Due to its rapid and regenerative capacity, deer antlers were proposed to be the good model for bone remodelling in mammals [2]. The data presented in this work is on the liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) profile and bioactive potential of Malayan deer antler velvet (DAV) on different Candida species that has clinical importance. Aqueous extraction of DAV samples was subjected to Liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) profiling. Reverse phase (RP) separation was used due to the process extraction using water as a solvent to separate polar compound. The data was interpreted using Profile Analysis 2.1V. The DAV samples were also tested for the effect on the biofilm formation of seven Candida species in a 96 well plate [3]. The biofilms were developed for 72 h in aerobic environment. Following that, the biofilms biomass was determined using crystal violet assay.