Investigating the Effect of Magnesium and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on the Levels of Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidants in Roselle

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effect of foliar application of magnesium oxide (MgO) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles on the amount of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of Roselle (<em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em>) as a medicinal plant by a factorial design in a randomized complete block design with four replications within the year of 2017 in Hashtgerd and Dehak areas. The first factor of the experiment consisted of different concentrations of MgO nanoparticles (zero (control), 0.01 and 0.03%), and the second factor included different concentrations of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (zero (control), 0.01 and 0.03%). The results of combined variance analysis of the two tested location indicated that the simple effect of each location treatment, different concentrations of MgO and Fe₂O₃nanoparticles and the interactions of different concentrations of MgO and Fe₂O₃nanoparticles on the values of hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, anthocyanin and activity levels of the enzymes of catalase and peroxidase were significant. The final results of this study showed that MgO and Fe₂O₃nanoparticles had an additive and significant effect on flavonoids, anthocyanin and the activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes in comparison with the control treatment, and had a decreasing effect on hydrogen peroxide of this plant. Also, the results showed that the interactions of 0.03% MgO nanop for governing and/or coordinating plant growth under stress conditions articles and 0.03% Fe₂O₃nanoparticles had an effect on the control treatment. It was also found that the Roselle bushes planted in Dehak region had the higher content of anthocyanin and flavonoids, and activity levels of catalase and peroxidase enzymes, and had the lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, compared with those planted in Hashtgerd area.