title: Tumorigenesis, metabolism, speciation, bioavailability, and tissue deposition of selenium in selenium-enriched ramps (Allium tricoccum).
abstract: Ramps (Allium tricoccum) were grown either in a mixture of vermiculite and peat moss or hydroponically with various concentrations of selenium as sodium selenate. The concentrations used were from 30 to 300 mg of selenium/kg of vermiculite-peat moss or from 10 to 120 mg/L in the hydroponic solutions. Levels as high as 784 mg of selenium/kg were obtained in the ramp bulbs when grown with high levels of selenium in the vermiculite-peat moss, and up to 600 mg of selenium/kg was obtained hydroponically. The predominant form of selenium in the ramp bulbs at all concentrations of selenium was Se-methylselenocysteine, with lower amounts of selenate, Se-cystathionine, and glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine. There was a approximately 43% reduction in chemically induced mammary tumors when rats were fed a diet with Se-enriched ramps. Dietary Se-enriched ramps for rats did not result in excessive tissue selenium accumulation or undesirable side effects. Bioavailability studies with rats indicated that selenium in ramps was 15-28% more available for regeneration of glutathione peroxidase activity than inorganic selenium as selenite. Therefore, Se-enriched ramps appear to have potential for the reduction of cancer in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. phil.whanger@orst.edu
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Whanger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Polan
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Uden
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Welbaum
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001682:Biological Availability; D003540:Cystathionine / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017279:Selenocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004151:Dipeptides; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D017279:Selenocysteine; D003540:Cystathionine; C013002:glutamylselenocystathionine; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D012643:Selenium; D003545:Cysteine; C002979:selenomethylselenocysteine