Comparative analysis of brassica rapa var. cymosa grown in hydroponic condition, lunar maria, and lunar highland regolith simulants: biochemical profiling and effects on drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo model

Background Sustainable crop cultivation in extraterrestrial environments is essential for future space missions. Lunar regolith simulants may influence plant biochemical properties and safety, yet their effects on plant quality and downstream biological responses remain underexplored. Methods Brassica rapa var. cymosa was cultivated under hydroponic conditions and in two lunar regolith simulants (lunar maria and lunar highland). Polyphenol profiles, antioxidant capacity, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were analyzed. Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon-K) flies were fed media supplemented with five concentrations of each plant sample and a control. DNA damage in larval brain neuroblasts was assessed via comet assay. Adult fly behavior, longevity, and prolificacy were evaluated. Results Lunar maria sample showed significantly higher levels of neochlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid, along with increased total phenolic content and chlorophyll a compared to hydroponic and lunar highland samples. Antioxidant capacity, assessed using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, was higher in lunar-grown plants than in hydroponic ones, whereas oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) showed no significant difference. DNA damage was increased across all larval groups but was lowest in the lunar maria group at moderate concentrations. Despite early genotoxic stress, adult flies developed normally, with comparable longevity and reproductive output. Notably, flies fed lunar maria samples exhibited enhanced climbing ability. Conclusion Cultivation in lunar regolith simulants alters plant biochemistry and induces early DNA damage in drosophila larvae without impairing adult health or behavior. The lunar maria simulant, in particular, promotes beneficial phytochemical traits and organismal resilience. These findings underscore both the challenges and potential of lunar agriculture, emphasizing the critical role of substrate choice in developing sustainable space farming systems.