Effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in both nitrite- and nitrosamine-induced cell death, production of reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE): does it have any protective effect on HepG2 cells?

Postharvest quality and reactive oxygen species metabolism improvement of Coprinus comatus mushroom using allyl isothiocyanate fumigation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and quality of postharvest Coprinus comatus. Fresh mushrooms were stored at 4 °C with AITC at 5, 10 and 20 μL/L for 18 d, respectively. Sampling was performed every 3 d, and physicochemical parameters and ROS metabolism related enzymes activities were analyzed. Compared with that of control, the application of AITC at 10 μL/L significantly (P < 0.05) decreased xanthine oxidase activity after 9 d storage, while significantly (P < 0.05) improved the activities of succinic dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in the middle and later stage of storage. Furthermore, the Ca 2+-ATPase and superoxide dismutase activities in sample treated by 10 μL/L were all significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in control. Therefore, the accumulation trends of malondialdehyde and ROS were retarded and membrane integrity was maintained. However, high concentration AITC (20 μL/L) treatment accelerated the ROS generation and increased electrolyte leakage rate. All AITC treatments significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the respiration rate during the first 9 d storage and retarded browning of C. comatus during the storage of 18 d. These findings suggested that AITC treatment would be a promising method to maintain C. comatus quality but the concentration need to be optimized.