ABSTRACT: Soy (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an annual plant cultivated worldwide mostly for food. Moreover, due to its
pharmacological properties it is widely used in pharmacy for alleviating the symptoms of osteoporosis. The aim of the present
study was to investigate the biofortification of soy treated with various concentrations of strontium. Soy was found to have a
strong capacity to absorb Sr2+ (bioconcentration factor higher than 1). A positive linear correlation (R2 > 0.98) between the
amount of strontium in the growth medium and its content in the plant was also observed. Moreover, at a concentration of 1.5
mM, strontium appeared to be nontoxic and even stimulated plant growth by approximately 19.4% and 22.6% of fresh weight for
shoots and roots, respectively. Our research may be useful to obtain vegetable products or herbal preparations containing both
phytoestrogens and strontium to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis.
KEYWORDS: soy, Glycine max, strontium, osteoporosis, biofortification