Abstract
These studies concentrate on the possibility of using selenium ions and/or 24-epibrassinolide at non-toxic levels as protectors of wheat plants against zearalenone, which is a common and widespread mycotoxin. Analysis using the UHPLC-MS technique allowed for identification of grains having the stress-tolerant and stress-sensitive wheat genotype. When germinating in the presence of 30 µM of zearalenone, this mycotoxin can accumulate in both grains and hypocotyls germinating from these grains. Selenium ions (10 µM) and 24-epibrassinolide (0.1 µM) introduced together with zearalenone decreased the uptake of zearalenone from about 295 to 200 ng/g and from about 350 to 300 ng/g in the grains of tolerant and sensitive genotypes, respectively. As a consequence, this also resulted in a reduction in the uptake of zearalenone from about 100 to 80 ng/g and from about 155 to 128 ng/g in the hypocotyls from the germinated grains of tolerant and sensitive wheat, respectively. In the mechanism of protection against the zearalenone-induced oxidative stress, the antioxidative enzymes—mainly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)—were engaged, especially in the sensitive genotype. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies allowed for a description of the chemical character of the long-lived organic radicals formed in biomolecular structures which are able to stabilize electrons released from reactive oxygen species as well as the changes in the status of transition paramagnetic metal ions. The presence of zearalenone drastically decreased the amount of paramagnetic metal ions—mainly Mn(II) and Fe(III)—bonded in the organic matrix. This effect was particularly found in the sensitive genotype, in which these species were found at a smaller level. The protective effect of selenium ions and 24-epibrassinolide originated from their ability to inhibit the destruction of biomolecules by reactive oxygen species. An increased ability to defend biomolecules against zearalenone action was observed for 24-epibrassinolide.
Highlights
One of the main active oestrogenic mycotoxins produced as a secondary metabolite by the pathogens of the Fusarium groups is zearalenone (6-(10-hydroxy-6-oxo-trans-1-undecenyl)-β-resorcyclicToxins 2017, 9, 178; doi:10.3390/toxins9060178 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxinsToxins 2017, 9, 178 acid lactone; ZEA)
We proposed that using selenium (Se) ions and a steroid as chemicals in low concentrations may be able to decrease the stressogenic action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by ZEA treatment of wheat grains
Zearalenone Content and Antioxidant Activity. Grains of both investigated wheat genotypes contained ZEA in similar and low concentrations, this was slightly higher in the case of Raweta (Table 1)
Summary
Toxins 2017, 9, 178 acid lactone; ZEA). Extensive data exists that indicates the contamination of cereals with this mycotoxin on a global scale; as a consequence, food products obtained from them could be potentially contaminated [1,2,3,4]. It has been demonstrated that stressogenic action of this toxin in plants is several times stronger than that of naturally occurring oestrogens, and causes a significant decrease in the germination of seeds [5], leaf damage, and reduced yield [6,7]. Detoxification strategies to reduce or eliminate the toxicity of ZEA by chemical, physical, and biological methods were suggested as being crucial to improve food safety and reclaim contaminated products [4,9]. Total or almost-total degradation of ZEA was obtained during ozone [10] and H2 O2 [11]
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