| Abstrakt: |
Simple Summary: Traps of Nepenthes (pitcher plants), often referred to as an "external stomach", conduct a unique process of external digestion. In this process in pitcher plants, reactive oxygen species (ROS) primarily act positively, whereas they are considered as "evil characters" in humans. Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have a dual role, which depends on their concentration and the place of their generation. The digestive process in Nepenthes is influenced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which serve as regulators in both plant and human systems. Carnivorous plants attract animals, trap and kill them, and absorb nutrients from the digested bodies. This unusual (for autotrophs) type of nutrient acquisition evolved through the conversion of photosynthetically active leaves into specialised organs commonly called traps. The genus Nepenthes (pitcher plants) consists of approximately 169 species belonging to the group of carnivorous plants. Pitcher plants are characterised by specialised passive traps filled with a digestive fluid. The digestion that occurs inside the traps of carnivorous plants depends on the activities of many enzymes. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) also participate in the digestive process, but their action is poorly recognised. ROS and RNS, named together as RONS, exhibit concentration-dependent bimodal functions (toxic or signalling). They act as antimicrobial agents, participate in protein modification, and are components of signal transduction cascades. In the human stomach, ROS are considered as the cause of different diseases. RNS have multifaceted functions in the gastrointestinal tract, with both positive and negative impacts on digestion. This review describes the documented and potential impacts of RONS on the digestion in pitcher plant traps, which may be considered as an external stomach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
