Document Type : Research paper
Authors
1
Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, P.O. Box 31485498, Iran
2
Plant Bioproducts Department, Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
3
Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, Iran
4
Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, Iran.
10.22059/ijhst.2025.382358.924
Abstract
This study examined the effects of low-dose gamma irradiation (1, 3, and 5 Gy) on the antioxidant compounds and properties of Thymus vulgaris compared with those of nonirradiated control plants. The persistence of irradiation effects was evaluated through pot experiments conducted immediately following seed treatment and again six months later, with analyses performed at the initial and subsequent cultivation stages. The results revealed that irradiation at 1 and 3 Gy significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide levels, whereas 5 Gy irradiation significantly increased these levels. A dose-dependent increase in total phenolic and flavonoid content was observed up to 3 Gy, after which a decrease was noted at 5 Gy. Antioxidant activity, measured using the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, was greater in all treatment groups than in the control group during the first cultivation. In the second cultivation, antioxidant activity, particularly in the 3 Gy treatment group, significantly increased and maintained its effectiveness over six months. These findings suggest that low-dose can sustainably increase the production of bioactive compounds in T. vulgaris. This study revealed that low-dose gamma irradiation has a hormetic effect on T. vulgaris, promoting the production of antioxidant compounds and improving its antioxidant properties.
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