Growth, Photosynthetic Pigments, Phenolic, Glucosinolates Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Broccoli Sprouts in Response to Nanoselenium Particles Supply

By S. I. Vicas, Simona Cavalu et al.

The aim of our study was the biofortification of broccoli sprouts with selenium nanoparticles (NSePs) and evaluation of growth parameters, assimilator pigments content, total phenols, glucosinolates content along with antioxidant capacity, in order to boost value added output, such as improved nutrition and food functionality. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

a) Size distribution of NSePs b) 3D micrograph of Selenium nano-spheres .
Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Effect of NSePs particles supply on: a) Total biomass; b) Root weight; c) Shoot weight. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Effect of NSePs treatment on green pigments content and total carotenoids.
Inset, chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Effect of NSePs treatments on: a) total phenols content; b) antioxidant capacity determined by DPPH assay; c) antioxidant capacity determined by FRAP assay. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
FTIR spectra of broccoli sprouts leaves upon NSePs treatment: a) 100 ppm; b) 50 ppm; c) 10 ppm; d) reference spectrum. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
HPLC profile of individual glucosinolates in broccoli sprouts (9 days old) grown under different concentrations of NSePs (10, 50 and 100 ppm). 1. PRO- Progoitrin, 2. GIB-Glucoiberin, 3. GRA- Glucoraphanin, 4. 4OHGBS- 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, 5. GER- glucoerucin, 6. GBS-Glucobrassicin,7. MeGBS- methoxyglucobrassicin, 8. NGBS-Neoglucobrassicin. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Mapping nano-Se particles in situ. Enhanced Darkfield Hyperspectral images of Se uptaken: a) 60x image of Se in broccoli leaf; b) 60x image of the leaf with Se mapped and pseudo-colored in red; c) Spectral comparison of plant tissue and Se in broccoli leaf (green line-plant tissue; red line-selenium). Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

Growth parameters, assimilator pigments content, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity of broccoli sprouts were evaluated. The growth of seedlings was depent on NSe concentration.The treatment with 10 and 50 ppm NSe caused a slight increase in total biomass, by contrast with 100 ppm treatment. A significantly increase in amount of chlorophyll a was recorded in the case of broccoli sprouts leaves treated with 100 ppm. The content in clorophyll band total carotene was not affected by the treatment with nanoSe particles. The concentration of 100 ppm NSe particles was reflected in the highest antioxidant capacity. Our results demonstrated that NSe particles in concentration of 10, 50 and 100 ppm didn’t induce any toxicity on broccoli sprouts. The effective uptake of NSe was further demonstrated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Enhanced Darkfield Hyperspectral Microscopy coupledwith CytoViva® unit. However, the complete understanding of NSe metabolism in vegetables sources requires more detailed biochemical studies and selenium uptake analysis to be conducted, especially from quantitative point of view. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

Full text at https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/11490/8807

Synergic effect of selenium nanoparticles and lactic acid bacteria in reduction cadmium toxicity

By Laslo, V., Pinzaru, S. C., Zaguła, G., Kluz, M., Vicas, S. I., & Simona Cavalu

Cadmium is a heavy metal, environmental pollutant and toxic for organisms. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and nanoparticles represent useful tools to remove heavy metals from different environments. The main
goal of our study was to develop a novel experimental design for cadmium (Cd) disposal using L. casei or L. fermentum and exogenous selenium nanoparticles. The experimental design was developed in two steps. In the first step, bio-synthesis, morphological and chemical characterization of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) produced by L. casei was performed. In the next step, L. casei and L. fermentum were used to evidence their binding ability toward Cd, highlighting the role of SeNPs against Cd-induced toxicity.
Homogenous, spherical shape SeNPs and sharp size distribution with maximum 200 nm were obtained via reduction route, using L. casei and Na 2 SeO 3 . Addition of Cd to LAB culture medium strongly inhibits both bacteria growth. SeNPs, in contrast to sodium selenite, clearly demonstrates the protective effect against Cd toxicity, as evidenced by dynamic growth curves of both bacteria. A better stimulation of endogenous SeNPs production was noticed for L. fermentum compared to L. casei . The efficiency of Cd bioabsorption by LAB was in the range 43.78% – 50.87%, the ratio of 1:2 LAB/SeNPs showing the best results for both bacteria. The synergic effect of biogenic SeNPs and LAB against Cd toxicity was demonstrated. The combination of FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared), FT Raman (Fourier Transformed Raman) and ICPOES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) techniques provides specific qualitative and quantitative information on the behavior of probiotic species with respect to SeNPs synthesis and Cd disposal. (Simona Cavalu et al. JOMS 1247, 2022, 131325).

Full text at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131325

Functional food based on elemental selenium NPs

By S. I. Vicas, Simona Cavalu at al.

Nano Selenium—Enriched Probiotics as Functional Food
Products against Cadmium Liver Toxicity

The main goal of our work was to develop a functional food based on elemental selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) obtained by green synthesis using Lactobacillus casei and to validate their ability to annihilate the hepatic toxic effects induced by cadmium.A functional food that includes both probiotic bacteria and elemental SeNPs could be successfully used to annihilate Cd-induced liver toxicity, and to improve both nutritional values and health benefits.

TEM micrograph of SeNPs synthesized using L. casei and NaHSeO3 as a reducing agent. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
TEM micrograph of SeNPs synthesized using L. casei and NaHSeO3 as a reducing agent; (b) energy dispersive X-ray analysis; and (c) particles size distribution confirmed by DLS. Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

We proposed investigating for the first time the protective effect of SeNPs and lacto-SeNPs (LSeNPs) administered orally to mice for 30 days in different concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg b.w.), against the toxic effects exerted by cadmium at the hepatic level. Blood biochemical parameters (transaminases, bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase), antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase), the antioxidant capacity of plasma along with the histology, immunohistochemistry for mitochondrial apoptosis markers (bcl-2bax) and gene expression of hepatic inflammatory markers (NF-ĸB, TNFα, IL-6) were analyzed in terms of the comparative evaluation of the dose-dependent protective activity of SeNPs and LSeNPs against cadmium intoxication.

The histopathological sections of mice livers of the experimental groups.
Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.
Hepatic immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 (A) and bax (B). Copyright Simona Cavalu et al.

Co-administration of Cd with both forms of SeNPs significantly decreased the gene expression of liver inflammatory markers, with the best effects for LSeNPs. A functional food that includes both probiotic bacteria and elemental SeNPs could be successfully used to annihilate Cd-induced liver toxicity, and to improve both nutritional values and health benefits. In this way, a possible new technology is provided for the food industry, the production of yogurt enriched with selenium nanoparticles produced by lactic acid bacteria with protective effects against heavy metals.

The full text of the paper can be accessed at:

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/9/2257/htm