Lidocaine modulates growth performance of some dicot and monocot seedlings

Local anaesthetic lidocaine caused significant inhibition of seedling growth of both monocot and dicot species investigated namely Lens culinaris, Vigna mungo, Brassica juncea, Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare and Sorghum bicolor. Concomitant with reduced growth, anaesthetic treatment also lowered the extent of seed reserve mobilization to the seedling, indicated by higher levels of left over seed dry weights analysed in two representative species. A species-specific lidocaine-induced anthocyanin production was observed in case of V. mungo cotyledons. All anaesthetic effects intensified with its concentration, although not always strictly in proportion to the dosage increment. These modulations being long-term and irreversible would obviously involve an altered gene expression induced by a local anaesthetic agent.