Comparative analysis of selenium biotransformation in broccoli sprouts via two extraction methods using HPLC-ICP...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Nutritional Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Selenium (Se) biofortification is crucial for enhancing human nutrition and plant resilience.
• Understanding Se uptake and metabolism in plants is vital for optimizing biofortification strategies.
• Broccoli sprouts are a model system for studying Se transformations due to their nutritional value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Selenium (Se) uptake and metabolism in broccoli sprouts.
• To compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and enzymatic extraction (EE) for Se analysis.
• To identify and quantify specific selenium species in biofortified broccoli sprouts.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and enzymatic extraction (EE) were employed for sample preparation.
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma (integrated collision reaction cell)-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ICP (iCRC)MS) was used for Se analysis.
• Detection and quantification limits for total Se were established using ICP (iCRC)MS.

Main Results:

• Three selenium species were identified: selenite (Se(IV)), selenomethionine (SeMet), and selenomethylselenocysteine (MeSeCys).
• High recovery rates were achieved for both UAE (102.0 ± 4.6% for Se(IV), 90 ± 20% for SeMet, 97.0 ± 2.4% for MeSeCys) and EE (99.0 ± 5.5% for Se(IV), 117.0 ± 7.2% for SeMet, 111 ± 18% for MeSeCys).
• Distinct Se speciation patterns emerged between UAE and EE, indicating differences in extractability and metabolic insights.

Conclusions:

• The study advances the understanding of Selenium transformations within plants.
• The findings support the development of Se-enriched functional foods for improved human nutrition.
• This research contributes to agricultural biofortification practices and food safety assessments.