Phenols and flavonoids in Aleppo Pine Needles as Bioindicators of Air Pollution

Christine Robles (1) , Stephane Greff (2) , Vanina Pasqualini (3) , Suzanne Garzino , Anne Bousquet-Mélou (2) , Catherine Fernandez (2) , Nathalie Korboulewsky , Gilles Bonin

1 LPED - Laboratoire Population-Environnement-Développement
2 IMBE - Institut méditerranéen de biodiversité et d'écologie marine et continentale
3 SPE - Sciences pour l'environnement

The aim of the present study is to assess whether certain ecophysiological responses (contents of total phenols, total proanthocyanidins, and total and simple flavonols), in the needles of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) may be valid bioindicators for the assessment of the air quality. Samples were taken at five natural sites polluted by various pollutants (NO, NO 2 , other NOx, SO 2 , and O 3). The results show a decrease in total phenol concentrations with levels of nitrogen oxide pollutions (significant negative correlations between the total phenol concentrations and concentrations of NO, NO 2 , and other NO x). Total flavonoids (total flavonols and proanthocyanidins) are useful bioindicators for ozone pollution (significant negative correlations between total proanthocyanidins and the concentrations of ozone and significant positive correlations between total flavonols and the ozone pollution). Sulfur dioxide pollution is distinguished by low concentrations in quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol (significant negative correlations between these simple flavonols and the concentrations of SO 2). This work confirms the strong interest of using the phenolic compounds of Pinus halepensis as biological indicators of air quality.

Mots clés: ecophysiological responses; Pinus halepensis Mill.; flavonols; proanthocyanidins; bioindicators; ozone pollution; ecophysiological responses

Domaines: Milieux et Changements globaux; Biodiversité et Ecologie; Chimie organique

Christine Robles, Stephane Greff, Vanina Pasqualini, Suzanne Garzino, Anne Bousquet-Mélou, et al.. Phenols and flavonoids in Aleppo Pine Needles as Bioindicators of Air Pollution. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2003, 32, pp.2003 - 2003. ⟨hal-01756213v1⟩