Effect of urban pollution on 4-coumarate:CoA ligase and flavonoid accumulation in Berberis thunbergii

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds commonly found in plants and they play an important role in stress tolerance. They have the capacity to chelate heavy metals and scavenge free radicals. Urban pollution causes oxidative stress in plants and flavonoids may protect cells against the negative effect of free radicals. In this study levels of anthocyanins and flavonols and 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) activity were determined in Berberis thunbergii (DC.) plants grown in polluted and residential areas in the city of Poznan. The results showed significantly higher accumulation of anthocyanins and stimulation of 4CL activity in plants from the contaminated sites in comparison to the control plants. Probably the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway was a response to stress caused by urban pollution.