Methods of evaluation of seed quality providing accurate prediction of seed performance under field conditions are needed by the seed industry. Various physiological tests, i.e. germination tests in suboptimal conditions of temperature, oxygenation and water potential of the medium, or accelerated ageing and controlled deterioration allow sensitive differentiation between seed lots. A better understanding of the biochemical, cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of seed vigour during seed development, in the germination process and in seed deterioration during ageing could suggest various markers of seed quality. Among these markers, electrolyte leakage and ethylene production during imbibition, cell-cycle markers (DNA replication, β-tubulin), soluble sugar metabolism (in particular, changes in the raffinose family of oligosaccharides), proteins (11S globulin B-subunit, late embryogenesis abundant protein, heat-shock protein) and the efficiency of reactive oxygen species scavenging through antioxidant defence systems (e.g. catalase activity) have potential for the evaluation of the state of seed maturity, seed performance and effectiveness of seed priming treatments. Use of global approaches such as transcriptomic, proteomic or metabolomic analysis could also result in the identification of new markers.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant role of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seeds (GS) against ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The hepatoprotective and antioxidant roles of the GS supplementation feed against ethanol-induced oxidative stress were evaluated by measuring liver damage serum marker enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and lactate dehydrogenase, antioxidant defence system such as GSH, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in various tissues of rats. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: I (control), II (20 % ethanol), III (15 % GS) and IV (20 % ethanol+15 % GS). According to the results, the level of serum marker enzymes was significantly increased in group II as compared to that of group I, but decreased in group IV as compared to that of group II. Also, administration of GS-supplemented food restored the ethanol-induced MDA, which was increased near the control level. The results indicated that GS could be as important as diet-derived antioxidants in preventing oxidative damage in the tissues by reducing the lipid oxidation or inhibiting the production of ethanol-induced free radicals in rats.