Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for human health. Se deficiency affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in developing countries, and there is increasing awareness that suboptimal supply of Se can also negatively affect human health. Selenium enters the diet primarily through the ingestion of plant and animal products. Although, plants are not dependent on Se they take it up from the soil through the sulphur (S) uptake and assimilation pathways. Therefore, geographic differences in the availability of soil Se and agricultural practices have a profound influence on the Se content of many foods, and there are increasing efforts to biofortify crop plants with Se. Plants from the Brassicales are of particular interest as they accumulate and synthesize Se into forms with additional health benefits, such as methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys). The Brassicaceae are also well-known to produce the glucosinolates; S-containing compounds with demonstrated human health value. Furthermore, the recent discovery of the selenoglucosinolates in the Brassicaceae raises questions regarding their potential bioefficacy. In this review we focus on Se uptake and metabolism in the Brassicaceae in the context of human health, particularly cancer prevention and immunity. We investigate the close relationship between Se and S metabolism in this plant family, with particular emphasis on the selenoglucosinolates, and consider the methodologies available for identifying and quantifying further novel Se-containing compounds in plants. Finally, we summarize the research of multiple groups investigating biofortification of the Brassicaceae and discuss which approaches might be most successful for supplying Se deficient populations in the future.
Highlights
Awareness of malnutrition, e.g., deficiencies in iron, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc, in the developing world is high, but micronutrient deficiency is rarely discussed in developed countries
Micronutrient deficiency is usually regarded as having minor effects in developed countries where the diet is more diverse and the food comes from a range of sources rather than being limited to local produce
There is increasing awareness that suboptimal amounts of Se can be damaging to human health, in particular when coupled with malnutrition
Summary
E.g., deficiencies in iron, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc, in the developing world is high, but micronutrient deficiency is rarely discussed in developed countries. Comparing different Brassica species cultivated on natural soils with a comparable Se concentration of about 0.32 mg kg−1 the order of precedence in uptake (in μg g−1 DW) was Brussels sprouts (B. oleracea Gemnifera Group) (0.247), broccoli (0.129), savoy cabbage (B. oleracea Savoy Cabbage Group) (0.104), cauliflower (0.102), red cabbage (0.091), white cabbage (0.085), kale (0.046), kohlrabi The involvement of the phosphate transport system in the movement of selenite throughout a plant has been reported based on the observation that increasing P concentration reduced selenite uptake rates in different plant species (Broyer et al, 1972; Hopper and Parker, 1999), this has not yet been found in Brassicales. 5.0% soluble Se-compounds
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