Selenium-enriched plant foods: Selenium accumulation, speciation, and health functionality

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for maintaining human health. The biological effects and toxicity of Se compounds in humans are related to their chemical forms and consumption doses. In general, organic Se species, including selenoamino acids such as selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocystine (SeCys2), and Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC), could provide greater bioactivities with less toxicity compared to those inorganics including selenite (Se IV) and selenate (Se VI). Plants are vital sources of organic Se because they can accumulate inorganic Se or metabolites and store them as organic Se forms. Therefore, Se-enriched plants could be applied as human food to reduce deficiency problems and deliver health benefits. This review describes the recent studies on the enrichment of Se-containing plants in particular Se accumulation and speciation, their functional properties related to human health, and future perspectives for developing Se-enriched foods. Generally, Se’s concentration and chemical forms in plants are determined by the accumulation ability of plant species. Brassica family and cereal grains have excessive accumulation capacity and store major organic Se compounds in their cells compared to other plants. The biological properties of Se-enriched plants, including antioxidant, anti-diabetes, and anticancer activities, have significantly presented in both in vitro cell culture models and in vivo animal assays. Comparatively, fewer human clinical trials are available. Scientific investigations on the functional health properties of Se-enriched edible plants in humans are essential to achieve in-depth information supporting the value of Se-enriched food to humans.

Precise Determination of Selenium Forms and Contents in Selenium-Enriched Rapeseed Seedlings and Flowering Stalks by HPLC-ICP-MS

“…Further, the amount of SeCys 2 in Xiziyuan1 seedlings detected using column 2 was only 26.89 μg/kg, which was significantly lower than that detected under column 1 (241.51 μg/kg), and the amount of SeIV, SeVI, and total Se detected by column 2 was also lower than that detected by column 1 (Figure B). Overall, the difference in total Se in rapeseed seedlings measured by the two columns was mainly due to the difference in SeCys 2 determination, which may be because SeCys 2 compounds with higher p K a value (8.07 and 8.94) in the protonating state were less retained by anion column chromatography when the mobile phase pH was about 5 . Therefore, anion exchange columns were selected to separate different selenides from Se-enriched rapeseed samples in this study.…”

“…Overall, the difference in total Se in rapeseed seedlings measured by the two columns was mainly due to the difference in SeCys 2 determination, which may be because SeCys 2 compounds with higher pK a value (8.07 and 8.94) in the protonating state were less retained by anion column chromatography when the mobile phase pH was about 5. 38 Therefore, anion exchange columns were selected to separate different selenides from Se-enriched rapeseed samples in this study.…”

Exploring the effects of selenite treatment on pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seedlings by physiology and transcriptome analysis

“…Pumpkins and pumpkin byproducts (seeds, leaf, and skin/peel) are widely used as functional foods by people because of their various bioactive compounds, including Selenium (Se) (Aziz et al, 2023). Se is thought as an indispensable metalloid element for animals and humans (Tangjaidee et al, 2023). Various Se proteins and Se-containing enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), contribute to antioxidant, anti-aging, and anticancer activity and improving human immunity (Kieliszek, 2019).…”

“…For humans, Se has one of the narrowest ranges between dietary de ciency (< 40µg d − 1 ) and toxicity (> 400µg d − 1 ) (Winkel et al, 2012). Plants are the main food source for humans and animals' intake of selenium, because they can absorb the inorganic selenium from the soil and convert it into organic selenium (Tangjaidee et al, 2023). Se concentrations in most of the world's soils are very low (variation from 0.01 to 2.0 mg kg -1 , with a mean of 0.4 mg kg -1 ), except in the soils associated with particular geological features in which Se can reach high concentration (more than 10 mg Se kg -1 ) (Winkel et al, 2012).…”

Selenium Organic Content Prediction in Jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum) and Its Molecular Interaction with Cardioprotection Receptors PPAR-γ, NF-κB, and PI3K

“…Some evidence shows that Se supplementation is beneficial for preventing chronic diseases and it is followed with the development studies of selenium as a dietary supplement from food sources [ 19 ] and plants [ 20 ]. The organic form of Se is often given as a supplement because it is less toxic [ 21 ], has better absorption, and has high bioavailability [ 22 ].…”