Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Induced Oxidative Stress in Lepidium sativum L.

The investigation was performed to evaluate the influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (60 Hz) on oxidative stress in Lepidium sativum L. Seeds were divided to dry and wet groups. In the case of wet group, seeds were soaked in water for 7 and 14 h. Dry and wet seeds were placed in the middle of a horizontally fixed coil and were exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic of a magnitude of 3.7 mT, for 30 and 60 min. Fourteen day old plants were then used for the measurement of leaf enzymatic and nonenzymatic activities. Results showed that the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) as well as nonenzymatic antioxidants (flavonoid content, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity) increased in all treatments. This phenomenon was more pronounced when seeds were exposed to extremely low electromagnetic field for 60 min. In addition, the amount of peroxidation of membrane lipids increased in all treatments. The results suggested that exposure to extremely low electromagnetic field caused accumulation of reactive oxygen species in L. sativum.