Nanoparticles synthesis by Agaricus soil basidiomycetes.

We examined the effect of various concentrations of HAuCl4, AgNO3, Na2SeO3, Na2SiO3, and GeO2 on mycelial growth of the soil basidiomycetes Agaricus bisporus and A. arvensis in submerged and solid media. Fungal mycelial extracts and cell-free culture filtrates were able to reduce ions of Au, Ag, Se, Si, and Ge compounds, forming Au0, Ag0, Se0, Si0/SiO2 and Ge0/GeO2 nanoparticles. The physical characteristics of the mycogenic nanoparticles differed depending on the species of Agaricus and the type of extract. Au nanospheres obtained with cell-free culture filtrates were of 2-5 nm diameter in A. bisporus and of 2-10 nm in A. arvensis. Nanoparticles produced by extracts of mycelia were several times larger and highly heterogenous. Ag nanoparticles produced by cell-free culture filtrates were spherical or irregular-shaped and agglomerated, whereas with extracts of mycelia, small homogenous nanospheres of 1-10 nm were formed. Se nanospheres obtained with cell-free culture filtrates were of 100-250 nm diameter in A. bisporus and of 150-550 nm diameter in A. arvensis. The particles synthesized with extracts of mycelia were of 40-140 nm in A. bisporus and of 100-250 nm in A. arvensis. Incubation of Na2SiO3 with cell-free culture filtrates resulted in porous Si nanoparticles of 30-65 nm in A. bisporus and of 50-200 nm in A. arvensis. Ge nanoparticles synthesized by both Agaricus species were mostly spheres of 50-250 nm diameter.

Exposure of kale root to NaCl and Na2SeO3 increases isothiocyanate levels and Nrf2 signalling without reducing plant root growth.

A plant factory is a closed cultivation system that provides a consistent and modified environment for plant growth. We speculated that treatment of kale (Brassica oleracea) grown in a plant factory with NaCl, Na2SeO3, or both would increase the bioactive phytochemical levels including glucosinolates (GLSs) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), the key molecules in cancer prevention. The kale was harvested and analysed after treatment with NaCl and Na2SeO3 alone or in combination for 1 or 2 weeks. Exposure to NaCl alone but not Na2SeO3 increased plant root growth. Levels of sinigrin were increased by a 2-week exposure to Na2SeO3 alone or in combination with NaCl, whereas no changes were observed in glucoraphanin and gluconasturtiin gluconasturtiin levels. Importantly, the ITC concentration was affected by 2-week treatment with both compounds. To evaluate the bioactivity of kale, HepG2 human hepatoma cells were treated with plant extract for 6 h. Only the extract of kale roots exposed to a combination NaCl and Na2SeO3 for 2 weeks showed an increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), which regulates genes encoding antioxidant proteins. These data suggest that co-treatment with NaCl and Na2SeO3 increased the ITC content and chemopreventive effects of kale root.

The antimicrobial effects of selenium nanoparticle-enriched probiotics and their fermented broth against Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria are considered important probiotics for prevention of some infections. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of selenium dioxide on the antifungal activity of Lactobacillus plantarum and L. johnsonii against Candida albicans. METHODS: Lactobacillus plantarum and L. johnsonii cells, grown in the presence and absence of selenium dioxide, and their cell-free spent culture media were tested for antifungal activity against C. albicans ATCC 14053 by a hole-plate diffusion method and a time-kill assay. RESULTS: Both L. plantarum and L. johnsonii reduced selenium dioxide to cell-associated elemental selenium nanoparticles. The cell-free spent culture media, from both Lactobacillus species that had been grown with selenium dioxide for 48 h, showed enhanced antifungal activity against C. albicans. Enhanced antifungal activity of cell biomass against C. albicans was also observed in cultures grown with selenium dioxide. CONCLUSIONS: Selenium dioxide-treated Lactobacillus spp. or their cell-free spent broth inhibited the growth of C. albicans and should be investigated for possible use in anti-Candida probiotic formulations in future.

The influence of selenium addition during germination of Brassica seeds on health-promoting potential of sprouts.

The correlation among selenium uptake, the content of bioactive compounds in sprouts, and biological activities triggered in cultured human cells by sprout extracts was investigated. Seeds of Brassica crops and rye were treated with SeO2 water solution. The selenium levels in sprouts increased from 1.0-4.1 to 53.3-382 µg/g dw with no influence on plant physiology according to the indices used. Neither the composition of glucosinolates (GL) in Brassica sprouts nor the myrosinase activity nor the composition of GL breakdown lipophilic products were significantly affected. In all Brassica sprouts, conversion to health-promoting isothiocyanates (ITC) and indoles corresponded to only 1% of total GLs. Low ITC concentration may explain observed lack of induction of glutathione S-transferases (GST) and quinone oxidoreductase (NQO) detoxifying enzymes in HT29 cells exposed to sprout extracts. The insignificant impact on cell growth and genome function suggests that Brassica sprouts may be safe vehicle of selenium to combat its dietary deficiency.

The abilities of selenium dioxide and selenite ion to coordinate DNA-bound metal ions and decrease oxidative DNA damage.

Several transition metals react with H2O2 and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for oxidative damage linked to many diseases and disorders, and species that form coordination complexes with these metal ions show promise as antioxidants. The present study demonstrates that metal-mediated radical and non-radical oxidative DNA damage decreases when selenium dioxide (SeO2) and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) are present. Radical-induced damage is associated with production of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), which arises from ROS generated at or near the guanine base, and the selenium compounds reduce Fe(II)-, Cr(III)- and Cu(II)-mediated radical damage to differing degrees based on the identity of the metal ion and the order in which the metals, selenium compounds and DNA are combined. Radical damage arising from Fe(II) and Cr(III) decreases substantially when they are pre-incubated with the selenium compounds prior to adding DNA. Non-radical damage is associated with oxidation of the adenine base in the presence of high H2O2 concentrations through an ionic mechanism, and this type of damage also decreases significantly when the selenium compounds are allowed to interact with the metal ions before adding DNA. Fluorescence studies using dihydrodichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) to probe ROS formation indicate that the majority of the SeO2- and SeO3(2-)-metal systems in combination with H2O2 (no DNA present) produce ROS to the same degree as the metal/H2O2 systems in the absence of the selenium compounds, suggesting that selenium-metal complexes react with H2O2 in a sacrificial manner that protects DNA from oxidative damage.