The Investigation of the Effect of the Salicylic Acid on the Antioxidant Potential, Vitamin C Content and Dna Protection Activity of Wheatgrass ( Triticum Aestivum L.)

Abstract

Wheatgrass is considered as a superfood because of its high antioxidant potential and beneficial ingredients. Especially in recent years, wheatgrass juice and its powder have been tested in vivo animal models and clinical studies against some diseases. Salicylic acid (SA) one of the important phytohormones controlling plant growth is used as an exogenous elicitor to increase plant bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant potential, vitamin C content and DNA protection of wheatgrass grown from SA pre-treated seeds. For this purpose, total antioxidant statue, total oxidant statue, oxidative stress index and vitamin C level were determined. Additionally, pUC19 plasmid was incubated with Fenton's solution to determine DNA protection activity of lyophilized wheatgrass extract. Bread wheat caryopses were imbibed in different concentrations of SA for 2 hours. Wheatgrass grown from seeds pre-treated with 10(-8) M SA had significantly higher total antioxidant statue, vitamin C and soluble protein content than control. It was observed that wheatgrass extracts had a DNA protective role against hydroxyl radicals. It was concluded that SA pretreatment of seeds could be a good approach to increase their antioxidant potential, soluble protein content and vitamin C level of plants used as antioxidant sources by people.