EFFECTS OF RADIO FREQUENCY / MICROWAVE ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM L.

In our work, the effects of radio frequency / microwave on the morphology, chemical composition and the antioxidant power of the plant Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. grown in our laboratory have been accomplished. The obtained results showed that after 10 days of exposure of this plant to electromagnetic fields with high frequency (1250 MHz) the stems were long with less leaves than the non exposed plant. However, after 20 days of exposure to this same frequency the stems were long and contain more leaves than the non exposed plant. These leaves were larger and thicker in comparison with those of the non exposed plant. On the other side, the phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of flavonoids in the exposed and non exposed plant. Alkaloids, phenols and saponins were only present in non exposed plant. The tannins were absent in the exposed and non exposed plant. Therefore, resins were highly expressed in the exposed plant. On the other side, the x-ray fluorescence indicated the presence of various trace elements more particularly niobium and molybdenum. After exposure, the amount of these elements varies. On the other hand, the DPPH and H2O2 tests showed an important decrease in the antioxidant potential after exposure to studied frequency. This decrease was from 42 % to 18 % at the concentration 0.5 mg/ml. All of these results show that the high frequency emitted by the electromagnetic fields exert a strong effect on the plant and by consequence on human health