Endemic Plant Helianthemum germanicopolitanum Bornm. (Cistaceae) in Gypsum Habitats: Exploring its Elemental Composition and Antioxidant Properties

Objective: Helianthemum germanicopolitanum Bornm., an endemic medicinal plant of Türkiye belonging to the Cistaceae family, grows naturally in gypsum habitats characterised by drought, nutrient limitations, and soil toxicity. These severe abiotic conditions cause oxidative stress in plants by producing reactive oxygen species. Since the activation of antioxidant systems is a typical plant response to stress, this study aimed to assess the antioxidant potential of H. germanicopolitanum by examining nutrient distribution and antioxidant enzyme activities in various tissues.Materials and Methods: Elemental content, along with the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT), as well as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), were measured in the roots, stems, and leaves.Results: The leaves exhibited higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), whereas the roots contained greater amounts of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) ions. GPOX, APX activities and H2O2 were highest in the leaves, whereas CAT and MDA were most concentrated in the roots. The SOD activity was consistent across tissues.Conclusion: Enzyme activity was notably high in the roots and leaves, indicating the strong antioxidant capacity of the plant in adapting to stressful gypsum environments.