The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), and catalase (CAT)), the free radical scavenging capacity, and the total polyphenol capacity of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivar “Munstead” propagated in vitro. In the experiment, fragments of lavender plants were cultivated in vitro on medium with the addition of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg∙dm⁻³ of AgNPs or AuNPs (particle sizes 24.2 ± 2.4 and 27.5 ± 4.8 nm, respectively). It was found that the nanoparticles increase the activity of the antioxidant enzymes APX and SOD; however, the reaction depends on the NP concentration. The highest APX activity is found in plants propagated on media with 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ of AgNPs. AuNPs significantly increase the APX activity when added to media with a concentration of 10 mg∙dm⁻³. The highest SOD activity is recorded at 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ AgNP and AuNP concentrations. The addition of higher concentrations of nanoparticles to culture media results in a decrease in the APX and SOD activity. The addition of AuNPs to culture media at concentrations from 2 to 50 mg∙dm⁻³ increases the POX activity in comparison to its activity when AgNPs are added to the culture media. No significant influence of NPs on the increase in CAT activity was demonstrated. AgNPs and AuNPs increased the free radical scavenging capacity (ABTS^•+). The addition of NPs at concentrations of 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ increased the production of polyphenols; however, in lower concentrations it decreased their content in lavender tissues.

The aim of this study was determined how an addition of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) and silver NPs (AgNPs) into culture media affects plant development and formation of oil glands in narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cv. ‘Munstead’. Plant shoots were propagated on media supplemented with 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs or AgNPs (diameter of 24.2 ± 2.4 nm and 27.5 ± 4.8 nm). Both of NPs positively influenced the growth and development of lavender propagated in vitro. The culture media with NPs stimulated formation of shoots and increased plant weight. Roots of plants propagated on the media supplemented with NPs were usually longer than those in the control. Only high concentrations of NPs (20 and 50 mg dm⁻³) in the culture media were toxic to plants, as demonstrated by restricted shoot length and gradual decrease in the value of other morphological features. Increases in AgNPs concentration caused the number of secretory trichomes to decrease. The diameter of the trichomes on both sides of the leaf blade was larger when the plants were propagated on the media supplemented with 1 and 2 mg dm⁻³ NPs. The diameter of trichomes formed on the adaxial surface of the leaf blade was greatest in the media enriched with 2 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs and 5 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs, and smallest in the media enriched with 5 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs. The diameter of trichomes formed on the abaxial surface was largest in plants exposed to 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs, 1 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs, and smallest in plants exposed to 5 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs.

The aim of this study was to determine how the addition of gold and silver nanoparticles to culture media affects the composition of essential oils extracted from Lavandula angustifolia propagated on MS media with the addition of 10 and 50 mg·dm⁻³ of gold (24.2 ± 2.4 nm) and silver (27.5 ± 4.8 nm) nanocolloids. The oil extracted from the lavender tissues propagated on the medium with 10 mg·dm⁻³ AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) differed the most with respect to the control; oil-10 compounds were not found at all, and 13 others were detected which were not present in the control oil. The addition of AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) and AgNPs to the media resulted in a decrease of lower molecular weight compounds (e.g., α- and β-pinene, camphene, δ-3-carene, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole, trans-pinocarveol, camphoriborneol), which were replaced by those of a higher molecular weight (τ- and α-cadinol 9-cedranone, cadalene, α-bisabolol, cis-14-nor-muurol-5-en-4-one, (E,E)-farnesol).

The concentrations of the bioactive compounds in potato tubers are determined by both genetic potential and environmental factors. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the influence of organic and integrated production on the expression of the genetic potential with respect to the antioxidant properties of potato tubers and to evaluate its stability under different environmental conditions. This phenotyping was performed on seven new breeding lines (tetraploid clones) and three modern cultivars: Jelly, Satina and Tajfun. The results indicated that production system and location significantly influenced the antioxidant capacity measured by FRAP method. Organic farming and the location Chwałowice were characterized by higher values. Furthermore, anitioxidative capacity measured by FRAP method was correlated with chlorogenic acid content (r = 0.590**) and glutathione fractions, especially with the reduced form (GSH, r = 0.692**). Multidimensional comparative analysis (MCA) proved a better development of antioxidant properties of potato tubers in the organic cultivation system when compared with the integrated. Especially favorable were growing conditions at Boguchwała (organic) and worst at Młochów (integrated). From all investigated varieties, the best antioxidant properties were found in ‘Satina’ and ‘Jelly’. Clones TG-97-403 and 13-VIII-45 developed the weakest health promoting traits.