Antioxidant activity in extracts from Leptodictyum riparium (Bryophyta), stressed by heavy metals, heat shock, and salinity.

We studied the antioxidant activity of the moss Leptodictyum riparium stressed with lead, cadmium, heat shock, and salinity. The acetonic extracts of the moss were tested for antioxidant activity on human whole blood leukocytes by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Stresses induced a significant increase of CL inhibition. Among the different stresses, heavy metals were the strongest enhancers of antioxidant activity. The different stresses induced antioxidant activity according the following scale: Cd > Pb > salinity > heat shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]