Comparative Study of Antioxidant Status in Androgenic Embryos ofAesculus hippocastanumandAesculus flava
In vivo(leaves and seed embryos) andin vitro(androgenic embryos) antioxidant scavenging activity ofAesculus hippocastanumandAesculus flavamedical plants was examined. Here we report antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione quantity, flavonoids, soluble protein contents, quantities of malondialdehyde, and•OH radical presence in the investigated plant samples. Total antioxidant capacity of all the samples ofA. hippocastanumandA. flavawas determined using FRAP, DPPH, and NO•radical scavenger capacity. The leaves ofA. flavacollected from the botanical garden exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (higher activities of SOD, and higher quantities of GSH, TSH, TPC, and scavenging abilities of DPPH and NO•, and higher FRAP values and lowest quantities of•OH and MDA) thanin vitroobtained cultures. However, the leaves ofA. flavashowed higher antioxidant activity than the leaves ofA. hippocastanum, and therefore they have a stronger tolerance of oxidative stress. Androgenic embryos of both species had low amount of antioxidants due to controlledin vitroenvironmental conditions (T, photoperiod, humidity, nutritive factors, and pathogen-free). Our results confirmed that we found optimalin vitroconditions for producing androgenic embryos of bothAesculusspecies. Also, we assume that horse chestnut androgenic embryos can be used as an alternative source for large-scale aescin production.