STSM3 Report Susanne Neugart

Antioxidant Potential under Different Irradiation Regimes

Susanne Neugart visited Prof. Nora O'Brien in Ireland (40 days in January and February 2013)

Flavonoids are phenolics and act as antioxidants and shielding components in the plant response to UV-B exposure (Edreva 2005). Furthermore, flavonoids can as antioxidants in plants e.g. different vegetables The aim of the STSM was to determine the antioxidant potential of extracts from three Brassiceae grown under different irradiation regimes. Therefore, widely used DPPH and FRAP measurements were made in the lab of Prof. Nora O’Brien at the University College Cork (UCC, Cork, Ireland). Furthermore, in vitro measurements in Caco-2 cells were conducted.

The results should be published together with the results established during an STSM to Prof. Éva Hideg (Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary/ University of Pécs, Institute of Biology) and co-workers from the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Szeged, Hungary). The results should enhance the knowledge of the function of flavonoids enhanced by moderate UV-B combined with other light qualities in the plant and the benefit for human beings. During my stay at UCC I have learned spectrophotometric methods to measure the antioxidant potential. Furthermore, I could get practical experiences in cell culture and enhance my knowledge on the comet assay.

Due to the STSM collaboration between the two work groups was intensified and a linkage between different work groups was established to enhance the knowledge in basic research. The results will help to understand the interaction of special flavonoids in photoprotection in the plant and antioxidant potential in the plants and for human nutrition. The results will influence future experiments on irradiation and are planned to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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