The Protective Antioxidant Effects of Sulforaphane on Germinating Radish Seeds Treated with Hydrogen Peroxide

Free radical chain reactions result when atoms containing unpaired electrons bind with biomolecules and alter their biological functions, contributing to the progression of diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and diabetes. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E and sulforaphane, are effective neutralizers of free radicals and prevent cellular damage. This present study is conducted to determine the relative effectiveness of sulforaphane against free radicals generated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) compared with the known antioxidant vitamin E. In this experiment, H2O2 is a source of free radicals and germinating radish seeds are models to test the protective effects of antioxidants against free radicals. Generally, H2O2 diffuses into the cell and dissociates to form hydroxyl radicals through Fenton reactions. Based on current literature, the hypothesis is that sulforaphane is more effective than vitamin E in inhibiting free radicals from 1% H2O2 on germinating radish seeds due to its activation of different antioxidant pathways compared to vitamin E’s direct neutralization of free radicals. The 1% H2O2-treated radish seeds show lower germination rates than seeds treated with sulforaphane and vitamin E with 1% H2O2. Furthermore, the germination rate is higher in sulforaphane with 1% H2O2-treated seeds compared to vitamin E and 1% H2O2 treated seeds. In summary, these experiments show sulforaphane is more effective than vitamin E in neutralizing the free radical effects of H2O2 on radish seed germination. These results point to sulforaphane’s potential use as a dietary supplement to counteract free radical effects on cellular levels, helping to prevent the progression of certain diseases.