Selenium biofortified jute leaves exhibited increased phenolic content and enhances anti-inflammatory cytokines and immunogloblin levels in Wistar rats

Abstract

Biofortification of staple vegetables with selenium (Se) is one of the ways of increasing the concentration of Se in leafy vegetables, and hence, a major method in ameliorating low Se levels in the population. Furthermore, at low doses, plant biofortification with Se has been shown to confer beneficial status on the plants. It is however, not enough that the vegetables bioaccumulate Se, it is also important to assess the physiological and biochemical effects of such biofortified vegetables in vivo. This study therefore, aims to evaluate the effect of Se biofortification on the concentration of phytochemicals present in jute (Corchorus olitorius) leaves, as well as the effect of the dietary inclusions of the Se biofortified vegetables on anti-inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulin levels in Wistar rats. The experiment included five treatments: control, 0.01 % Se fertilizer inclusion, 0.05 % Se fertilizer inclusion, 0.1 % Se fertilizer inclusion and organic fertilizer inclusion to topsoil used to plant jute plants. Analysis of the phytochemicals in jute leaves was carried out via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result shows that the phytochemicals concentration, mainly phenolics, was highest at 0.05 % Se fertilizer inclusion. Thereafter, rats were fed dietary inclusions of these biofortified vegetables (2.5 and 5 %) for thirty days. Subsequently, the rats’ sera were assayed for immunoglobulins (Ig) and cytokines levels. The results showed a significant increase in Ig M, Ig A. Ig G and IL-6 particularly at 5 % dietary inclusion of the Se biofortified vegetables. This study therefore, shows that Se-biofortified jute leaves could modulate some critical proteins of the immune system essential for responding to immunogenicity.