The relationship between antioxidant enzymes activity and mungbean sprouts growth during the germination of mungbean seeds treated by electrolyzed water

Abstract

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) could promote the germination and growth of mungbean sprouts, and electron spin resonance analyses of SAEW showed that besides available chlorine, reactive oxygen species (ROS) existed in SAEW. Further research showed that, a series of antioxidant enzymes activity were also affected by SAEW. Lower superoxide dismutase activity and higher peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity led to less hydrogen peroxide accumulated in mungbean sprouts treated by SAEW. Thus, the available chlorine and ROS present in the SAEW played a role in the mungbean sprouts’ antioxidant mechanism, which in turn appeared as a growth-promoting effect on the mungbean sprouts.