THE EFFECT OF WHEAT GERM ON THE TOTAL OXIDATIVE STRESS DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Wheat germ is rich in polyunsaturated fats and affected the storage qualities of flour. Diet content is important for the oxidant-antioxidant system because insufficient or excessive nutrition can cause health problems in human diet. This study was investigated the effects of a wheat germ flour diet on total oxidation and antioxidant levels and the relationship between them in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) adults. D. melanogaster (W¹¹¹⁸) larvae were fed with wheat germ flour (1-5%) until the adult stage. Total oxidant stress (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined in adult individuals, and obtained data were compared with SPSS.17 (p<0,05). It's stressed that a good amount of increase will occur in the activity of TOS (13,55 µmol/L) which the insects fed by the highest concentration (5%) compared to controls. It is detected that adding wheat germ to nutritional compounds in low concentrations reduces the level of oxidation whereas the consumption of large amounts increases the level of oxidation. The usability of wheat germ was investigated as a source of dietary supplement and determined that wheat germ will be used easily at level of 1% in non-target organisms by paying attention to usage doses and storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]