Physiologic responses of suspension-cultured parsley cells to static magnetic field

Magnetic field is an environmental factor for living organisms which affects biological processes in different ways. Living cells contain electrical charges which are produced by free ions or radicals. Magnetic fields can influence cells via interaction with ions and especially ferromagnetic materials, like iron. In this study, parsley or Petroselinum crispum cells were treated by static magnetic field (30 mT, for 4 hours) and the total content of iron, ferritin and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed. Results showed a significant decrease in the total iron content and it was followed by a decrease in ferritin content. Ascorbate peroxidase activity was reduced. It could be resulted by decrease of iron as a structural element. However, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity increased in response to magnetic field compared to the control cells. It seemed that catalase activities increased scavenge H2O2 produced by increasing superoxide dismutase activity.