Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Elena UTOIU, Anca OANCEA, Alexandra GASPAR, Ana-Maria SECIU, Laura M. ȘTEFAN, Viorica COROIU, Oana CRĂCIUNESCU, Cristinel Dumitru BADIU, Florin OANCEA,

Cruciferous vegetables are known as food with chemopreventive effect due to their high content in bioactive compounds, such as mineral nutrients, including selenium, antioxidants, vitamins and glucosinolates, which were shown to inhibit cancer cell growth, both in vitro and in vivo testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new selenium-based composition, applied on experimental field conditions to cauliflower plants (Brassica oleracea L.), on their chemopreventive compounds level and antitumoral activity. Treated plants, cultivated both in normal watered and water stress conditions, were compared for total selenium and sulforaphane contents, determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of cauliflower extracts was evaluated in NCTC fibroblast cell line, while their antitumoral activity was tested in Caco-2 human adenocarcinoma cell line using MTT colorimetric assay. The results indicated that the applied biofortification treatments increased the selenium intake, allowed formation of bioactive glucosinolates and enhanced the antitumoral activity of cauliflower plants cultivated in both normal watering and water stressed conditions. In conclusion, this new biotechnological approach on cauliflower cultivation, using a treatment with a novel selenium-based composition, could be considered promising step for obtaining functional food from cauliflower crops.

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