High nutritional value of parsley determines constant interest to this agricultural crop as a source of natural antioxidants to humans. Biochemical characteristics of 6 parsley varieties (Federal scientific center selection) are investigated. Dry matter content was in the range 20.56-25.92%. Monosaccharides concentrations varied from 1.29 to 2.14%. High correlation between dry matter and monosaccharides content in leaves was revealed (r=0.97). The highest concentration of ascorbic acid was demonstrated in leaves of two varieties: Nezhnost and Breeze. The highest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content were typical for leaves of root-parsley and curly variety Krasotka (45.1 mg-eq GA/g d.w., 16.6 mg-eq GA/g d.w. and 55.55 mg-eq GA/g d.w., 15.8 mg-eq GA/g d.w. accordingly). Antioxidant activity level was found to be strictly connected with the content of ascorbic acid and a strong correlation was demonstrated between these parameters (r=0.92, P<0.01). The highest concentration of photosynthetic pigments was typical for Nezhnost variety. A quadratic relationship between dry matter content/monosaccharides and AOA/ascorbic acid happened to be peculiar for parsley. Significant intervarietal differences of macroelements accumulation in parsley leaves are revealed. Thus the highest levels of manganese accumulated Nezhnost cultivar, zinc and copper – Krasotka variety, iron – Krasotka, Moscvichka cvs and root parsley.

Production of functional food with high levels of selenium and other antioxidants is very valuable for human protection against different forms of oxidant stress. Among leafy vegetables parsley demonstrate the highest levels of antioxidants. Biochemical analysis and fluorimetric determination of selenium revealed that foliar biofortification of 4 parsley (Petroselinum crispum) cultivars and Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica) with sodium selenate (25 mg L-1) resulted in the highest biofortification level in curly parsley cultivar Krasotka (102.9) which showed the highest leaf surface area, antioxidant activity (65 mg GAE g-1 d.w.) and flavonoids content (25.9 mg quercetin equivalent g-1 d.w.), and the increase by 1.4 times in carotene content and 1,5 times in total chlorophyll content. ICP-MS method of mineral composition evaluation recorded extremely high levels of B and Si in Mustuba, which increased due to Se supplementation by 1.23 and 1.46 times respectively. In a two-year experiment with control and Se-fortified, leafy parsley, cultivar Moskvichka reached high values of seed yield and viability, and seed Se content (6170 µg kg-1 d.w.). The results of the present investigation demonstrate high prospects of parsley and Mitsuba selenium biofortification for production of functional food with elevated levels of microelement and high antioxidant activity.

Contributions of main factors and their interaction effects on development of the allelopathic activity of seeds have been shown. The specificity of distribution of factor influence portion has been revealed depending on extract concentration.

Relevance. Evaluation of nutritional value of seeds of agricultural crops is considered to be highly significant for revealing new sources of antioxidants for humans.Material. The aim of the present investigation was antioxidant status and selenium accumulation levels by chicory seeds (13 cultivars) and comparison of the results with antioxidants status of seeds of other root vegetables: celery (5 cultivars), parsley (2 cultivars), parsnip (3 cultivars) and carrot (7 cultivars).Results. Among agricultural crops studied chicory was characterized by 3-4 higher levels of selenium accumulation by seeds and relatively low total antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. Anomalously high protein content in chicory seeds may explain the efficiency of selenium accumulation while relatively low antioxidant activity may be connected with lower levels of essential oil. Direct correlations between polyphenol content and total antioxidant activity were demonstrated for carrot (r=+0.924; P<0.01) and chicory (r= 0.803; P<0.01) seeds.