Prospects of Anthriscus, Chaerophyllum, and Myrrhoides Species Utilization and Biofortification with Selenium
Nadezhda Golubkina1,*, Viktor Kharchenko1, Ekaterina Krainyuk2, Lubov Riff2, Vladimir Lapchenko3, Helene Lapchenko3, Anastasia Moldovan1, Uliana Plotnoikova4, Otilia Cristina Murariu5, Gianluca Caruso6
1 Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, Moscow, 143072, Russia
2 Nikitsky Botanic Gardens—National Scientific Center of RAS, Yalta, 298648, Russia
3 T.I. Vyazemsky Karadag Scientific Station—Nature Reserve of RAS—Branch of A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Kurortnoe, 298188, Russia
4 Department of Ecology, Sergo Ordzhonikidzer Russian State Geological Exploration University, Moscow, 117485, Russia
5 Department of Food Technologies, ‘Ion Ionescu de la Brad’ Iasi University of Life Sciences, Iasi, 700490, Romania
6 Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Naples, 80055, Italy
* Corresponding Author: Nadezhda Golubkina. Email: 
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.072328
Received 24 August 2025; Accepted 22 October 2025; Published online 12 December 2025
Abstract
Despite their remarkable content of biologically active compounds, highly valuable for human health, wild relatives of Umbelliferous plants show limited utilization. The aim of the present work was the evaluation of the antioxidant status of
Anthriscus,
Chaerophyllum, and
Myrrhoides species gathered in different climatic zones (from Mediterranean to Arctic) and of their suitability to produce valuable functional food for optimizing the human Se status. Among the Crimean plants,
A. sylvestris,
C. bulbosis, and
M. nososa showed the highest antioxidant status, while the lowest was recorded in
A. cerefolium and
A. caucalis, displaying a significant correlation between the antioxidant activity (AOA) and polyphenols (TP) (r = 0.93;
p < 0.001). A positive correlation between the longitude and AOA, and TP was detected for
A. sylvestris (r = 0.95 and r = 0.93, respectively;
p < 0.001). The high adaptability and wide geographical distribution of the latter species, as well as its significant content in natural antioxidants, make it an interesting product for Se biofortification. Foliar supplementation of sodium selenate allowed to obtain a new functional food with high TP content (36.4 mg GAE g
−1 d.w.), ascorbic acid (42 mg 100 g
−1 f.w.), and AOA (72 mg GAE g
−1 d.w.). Moreover, Se level exceeded 3 mg kg
−1 d.w., which suggests the plant suitability for the human Se status optimization, especially in Se-deficient Arctic zone, particularly referring to Nikel settlement with relatively low levels of Se in human hair (377 ± 13 μg kg
−1), bread (58 ± 3 μg kg
−1), and freshwater fish (359 ± 22 μg kg
−1). The high antioxidant status of
Myrrhoides nodosa indicates the need for detailed investigation of plant biochemistry and the identification of its utilization prospects.
Keywords
Wild Apiaceae relatives; nutritional value;
A. sylvestris; selenium biofortification; human Se status optimization
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