Selenium Enrichment of Green and Red Lettuce and the Induction of Radical Scavenging Potential

Muna Ali Abdalla,Lyndy J Mcgaw,Ibukun M Famuyide,Jürgen E Wick,Karl H Mühling

doi:10.3390/horticulturae7110488

Muna Ali Abdalla, Lyndy J Mcgaw + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110488

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Abstract

Selenium (Se)-enriched vegetables are promising dietary sources of Se, which provides beneficial biological effects in humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of foliar application of Se on hydroponically grown multi-leaf green (V1) and red (V2) lettuce plants. Three selenate (SeIV) amendment levels were evaluated for their influence on plant growth, elemental composition and radical scavenging capacity. Lettuce heads biofortified with 0.598 mg Se plant−1 accumulated 19.6–23.6 and 14.9–17.6 μg Se g−1 DM in the multi-leaf green (V1) and red (V2) lettuce plants, respectively. The accumulated Se levels can contribute significantly to the recommended dietary allowance of 70 µg day−1 for adult men and 60 µg day−1 for adult women. Accordingly, both V1 and V2 lettuce cultivars grown under the Se3 foliar application condition can cover the daily requirement for adult men by approximately 100% and 85% to 100%, respectively, by consuming 75–90 g or 100 g fresh weight from V1 or V2, respectively. The ABTS radical scavenging potential of green lettuce was induced at Se2 and Se3 foliar application levels, where the IC50 was 1.124 ± 0.09 μg mL−1 at Se0 and improved to 0.795 ± 0.03 and 0.697 ± 0.01 μg mL−1, respectively. There was no cytotoxicity against Vero kidney cells among all treated lettuce plants at the highest concentration tested of 1 mg/mL. Finally, a further focused investigation of the metabolic profile of lettuce plants under varied Se levels needs to be investigated in future studies.

Highlights

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial trace element, which is known to alleviate plant oxidative stress by stimulating the plant’s antioxidant potential [1]
The current results revealed some variations in terms of plant biomass production including yield, dry matter (DM), and number of leaves between V1 and V2 lettuce cultivars under Se foliar application (Figure 2)
Both V1 and V2 lettuce cultivars can cover the nutritional requirements of 70 μg day−1 for adult men and 60 μg day−1 for adult women with relatively low or no cytotoxicity against Vero kidney cells

Summary

Introduction

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial trace element, which is known to alleviate plant oxidative stress by stimulating the plant’s antioxidant potential [1]. Se indirectly enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in addition to promoting synthesis of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as GSH, phytochelatins, proline, ascorbate, carotenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which are known antioxidants and free radical scavengers [2,3]. Se has a key role in the initiation of immunity, protection against oxidative stress, and preventing viral infections in the human body [4]. It has been reported recently that a combination of Se, vitamin C, and vitamin D might help to elevate the immune system, prevent COVID-19 spread, and inhibit the progression of the disease to severe stages [5,6]. It has been estimated that more than 15% of the world’s population is affected by Se

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