A review of nutritional properties and health benefits of Physalis species

Covalent binding of withanolides to cysteines of protein targets

Withanolides represent an important category of natural products with a steroidal lactone core. Many of them contain an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety with a high reactivity toward sulfhydryl groups, including protein cysteine thiols. Different withanolides endowed with marked antitumor and anti-inflammatory have been shown to form stable covalent complexes with exposed cysteines present in the active site of oncogenic kinases (BTK, IKKβ, Zap70), metabolism enzymes (Prdx-1/6, Pin1, PHGDH), transcription factors (Nrf2, NFκB, C/EBPβ) and other structural and signaling molecules (GFAP, β-tubulin, p97, Hsp90, vimentin, Mpro, IPO5, NEMO, …). The present review analyzed the covalent complexes formed through Michael addition alkylation reactions between six major withanolides (withaferin A, physalin A, withangulatin A, 4β-hydroxywithanolide E, withanone and tubocapsanolide A) and key cysteine residues of about 20 proteins and the resulting biological effects. The covalent conjugation of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system of withanolides with reactive protein thiols can occur with a large set of soluble and membrane proteins. It points to a general mechanism, well described with the leading natural product withaferin A, but likely valid for most withanolides harboring a reactive (electrophilic) enone moiety susceptible to react covalently with cysteinyl residues of proteins. The multiplicity of reactive proteins should be taken into account when studying the mechanism of action of new withanolides. Proteomic and network analyses shall be implemented to capture and compare the cysteine covalent-binding map for the major withanolides, so as to identify the protein targets at the origin of their activity and/or unwanted effects. Screening of the cysteinome will help understanding the mechanism of action and designing cysteine-reactive electrophilic drug candidates.

Blooming balloons: Searching for mechanisms of the inflated calyx

Studying morphological novelties offers special insights into developmental biology and evolution. The inflated calyx syndrome (ICS) is a largely unrecognized but fascinating feature of flower development, where sepals form balloon-like husks that encapsulate fruits. Despite its independent emergence in many lineages of flowering plants, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of ICS remain unknown. Early studies in the Solanaceae genus Physalis put forth key roles of MADS-box genes in ICS. However, recent work suggests these classical floral identity transcription factors were false leads. With newfound capabilities that allow rapid development of genetic systems through genomics and genome editing, Physalis has re-emerged as the most tractable model species for dissecting ICS. This review revisits current understanding of ICS and highlights how recent advancements enable a reset in the search for genetic and molecular mechanisms using unbiased, systematic approaches.

Cytotoxic withanolides from the stems and leaves of Physalis ixocarpa

The stems and leaves of the tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa or Physalis philadelphica) were considered agricultural waste during the processing of tomatillo fruits. However, their potential value for utilization has not yet been explored. The investigation resulted in the isolation of a total of 29 withanolides, out of which 15 never reported. These newly discovered withanolides were then tested for their cytotoxicity against eight different human tumor cell lines. Compounds 2-3, 6-7, 17, 19, and 25-27 displayed encouraging cytotoxic effects. Given the potent inhibitory activity of physagulin C (25) on the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro, further investigation was conducted to determine its molecular mechanism. Physagulin C inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process through the down-regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Withanolides presenting in the stems and leaves of tomatillo make the plant possess potential commercial importance. Therefore, tomatillos could be commercialized worldwide in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Exploration of human pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors from Physalis peruviana for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, accounts for ∼90% of all types of diabetes. Pancreatic α-amylase is a potential drug target for preventing postprandial hyperglycemia and inhibiting T2D in humans. Although many synthetic drugs have been identified against pancreatic α-amylase, however, reported several side effects, and plant-derived natural products are less explored against T2D. This study tested 34 flavonoids derived from the plant Physalis peruviana against the human pancreatic α-amylase (HPA) using in silico computational approaches such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. Schrödinger, a drug discovery package with modules applicable for molecular docking, protein-ligand interaction analysis, molecular dynamics, post-dynamics simulation, and binding free energy calculation, was employed for all computational studies. Four flavonoids, namely, Chlorogenic acid, Withaperuvin F, Withaperuvin H, and Rutin, were picked based on their docking score ranging between -7.03 kcal/mol and -11.35 kcal/mol compared to the docking score -7.3 kcal/mol of reference ligand, i.e. Myricetin. The molecular dynamics analysis suggested that all flavonoids showed considerable stability within the protein's catalytic pocket, except chlorogenic acid, which showed high deviation during the last 15 ns. However, the interactions observed in initial docking and extracted from the simulation trajectory involved > 90% identical residues, indicating the affinity and stability of the docked flavonoids with the protein. Therefore, all four compounds identified in this study are proposed as promising antidiabetic candidates and should be further considered for their in vitro and in vivo validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Combined Effect of the Potassium Dose and Plant Biofertilization by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus on the Growth, Mineral Content, Nutritional Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Metabolomic Features of Tomatillo Fruits (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.)

An Acinetobacter calcoaceticus UTMR2 strain was evaluated in tomatillo plants (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) using a factorial design with different potassium doses (100, 75, 50 and 0% of the recommended dose). In addition to the agronomic parameters, an analysis of the physicochemical, antioxidant, and metabolomic properties of the fruit was performed. The application of the inoculant affected several parameters of the plant (chlorophyll, weight, and contents of several mineral elements) as well as of the fruit (yield, maturity index, FRAP antioxidant capacity, and contents of protein, fiber, and fat). A multivariate analysis was performed by means of a PCA and a heatmap, indicating that the inoculant induced a strong modulating activity in tomatillo plants for the evaluated parameters, with a remarkable effect at low K doses (0 and 50%). The inoculated treatment at 75% of the K dose resulted in similar plant and fruit characteristics to the fully fertilized control. On the other hand, the biofertilized treatment with no K addition resulted in the highest values in the plant and fruit parameters. In addition, from the metabolomics analysis of the fruits at 75% of the K dose, the up-regulation of 4,4″-bis(N-feruloyl)serotonin, salvianolic acid K, and chlorogenic acid was observed, which may have a role in anti-senescence and resistance mechanisms. In conclusion, the rhizobacterial strain had a positive effect on plant growth, nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of tomatillo fruits at reduced doses of K fertilizer, which gives support for its consideration as an effective biofertilizer strain.

Establishing Physalis as a Solanaceae model system enables genetic reevaluation of the inflated calyx syndrome

The highly diverse Solanaceae family contains several widely studied models and crop species. Fully exploring, appreciating, and exploiting this diversity requires additional model systems. Particularly promising are orphan fruit crops in the genus Physalis, which occupy a key evolutionary position in the Solanaceae and capture understudied variation in traits such as inflorescence complexity, fruit ripening and metabolites, disease and insect resistance, self-compatibility, and most notable, the striking inflated calyx syndrome (ICS), an evolutionary novelty found across angiosperms where sepals grow exceptionally large to encapsulate fruits in a protective husk. We recently developed transformation and genome editing in Physalis grisea (groundcherry). However, to systematically explore and unlock the potential of this and related Physalis as genetic systems, high-quality genome assemblies are needed. Here, we present chromosome-scale references for P. grisea and its close relative Physalis pruinosa and use these resources to study natural and engineered variations in floral traits. We first rapidly identified a natural structural variant in a bHLH gene that causes petal color variation. Further, and against expectations, we found that CRISPR-Cas9-targeted mutagenesis of 11 MADS-box genes, including purported essential regulators of ICS, had no effect on inflation. In a forward genetics screen, we identified huskless, which lacks ICS due to mutation of an AP2-like gene that causes sepals and petals to merge into a single whorl of mixed identity. These resources and findings elevate Physalis to a new Solanaceae model system and establish a paradigm in the search for factors driving ICS.

Systemic whitefly-induced metabolic responses in newly developed distal leaves of husk tomato plants (Physalis philadelphica) impairs whiteflies development

BACKGROUND

Metabolic reconfiguration in plants is a hallmark response to insect herbivory that occurs in the attack site and systemically in undamaged tissues. Metabolomic systemic responses can occur rapidly while the herbivore is still present and may persist in newly developed tissue to counterattack future herbivore attacks. This study analyzed the metabolic profile of local and newly developed distal (systemic) leaves of husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica) plants after whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum infestation. In addition, the effect of these metabolomic adjustments on whitefly oviposition and development was evaluated.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that T. vaporariorum infestation induced significant changes in husk tomato metabolic profiles, not only locally in infested leaves, but also systemically in distal leaves that developed after infestation. The distinctive metabolic profile produced in newly developed leaves affected whitefly nymphal development but did not affect female oviposition, suggesting that changes driven by whitefly herbivory persist in the young leaves that developed after the infestation event to avoid future herbivore attacks.

CONCLUSIONS

This report contributes to further understanding the plant responses to sucking insects by describing the metabolic reconfiguration in newly developed, undamaged systemic leaf tissues of husk tomato plants after whitefly infestation. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Wild berries and related wild small fruits as traditional healthy foods

The consumption of cultivated berry species (e.g., strawberries, blueberries) has increased dramatically in the last two decades after consumers appreciated them as flavorful, convenient and healthy fruits. Wild berries and similar small wild fruits are traditionally consumed around the world by local people as safe, nutritious, tasty, and versatile foods. These wild fruits have played an important role in the nutrition and bio-cultural aspects of rural communities. Like their commercial counterparts, wild berries contain important nutrients and bioactive compounds that may prevent or delay some chronic diseases attributed to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. This review provides a comprehensive appraisal of the chemical and bioactive components in wild berry species and their traditional uses as foods around the globe. Presently, wild berries and similar wild small fruits are novel food sources that inspire applications as culinary products, processed foods, and nutraceuticals. Further research is needed to validate the content and action of bioactive components responsible for health claims. Sustainable commercial exploitation of wild berries should consider biocultural, environmental, and socio-economic aspects.

Characterization of the plastome of Physaliscordata and comparative analysis of eight species of Physalis sensu stricto

In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the plastome of Physaliscordata Mill. and compared it with seven species of the genus Physalis sensu stricto. Sequencing, annotating, and comparing plastomes allow us to understand the evolutionary mechanisms associated with physiological functions, select possible molecular markers, and identify the types of selection that have acted in different regions of the genome. The plastome of P.cordata is 157,000 bp long and presents the typical quadripartite structure with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,267 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,501 bp, which are separated by two inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 25,616 bp each. These values are similar to those found in the other species, except for P.angulata L. and P.pruinosa L., which presented an expansion of the LSC region and a contraction of the IR regions. The plastome in all Physalis species studied shows variation in the boundary of the regions with three distinct types, the percentage of the sequence identity between coding and non-coding regions, and the number of repetitive regions and microsatellites. Four genes and 10 intergenic regions show promise as molecular markers and eight genes were under positive selection. The maximum likelihood analysis showed that the plastome is a good source of information for phylogenetic inference in the genus, given the high support values and absence of polytomies. In the Physalis plastomes analyzed here, the differences found, the positive selection of genes, and the phylogenetic relationships do not show trends that correspond to the biological or ecological characteristics of the species studied.

The powerful Solanaceae: Food and nutraceutical applications in a sustainable world

The Solanaceae family is considered one of the most important families among plant species because, on one hand encompasses many staple food crops of the human diet while, on the other hand, it includes species rich in powerful secondary metabolites that could be valorized in medicine or drug formulation as well as nutraceuticals and food supplements. The main genera are Solanum, Capsicum, Physalis, and Lycium which comprise several important cultivated crops (e.g., tomato, pepper, eggplant, tomatillo, and goji berry), as well as genera notable for species with several pharmaceutical properties (e.g., Datura, Nicotiana, Atropa, Mandragora, etc.). This chapter discusses the nutritional value of the most important Solanaceae species commonly used for their edible fruit, as well as those used in the development of functional foods, food supplements, and nutraceuticals due to their bioactive constituents. The toxic and poisonous effects are also discussed aiming to highlight possible detrimental consequences due to irrational use. Finally, considering the high amount of waste and by-products generated through the value chain of the main crops, the sustainable management practices implemented so far are presented with the aim to increase the added-value of these crops.

Golden Berry Waste for Electricity Generation

The environmental problems caused by the excessive use of fossil fuels for electricity generation have led to the development of new technologies. Microbial fuel cells constitute a technology that uses organic sources for electricity generation. This research gives a novel means of using Golden Berry waste as fuel for electricity generation through microbial fuel cells made at low cost, achieving current and voltage peaks of 4.945 ± 0.150 mA and 1.03 ± 0.02 V, respectively. Conductivity values increased up to 148 ± 1 mS/cm and pH increased up to 8.04 ± 0.12 on the last day. The internal resistance of cells was 194.04 ± 0.0471 Ω, while power density was 62.5 ± 2 mW/cm2 at a current density of 0.049 A/cm2. Transmittance peaks of the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum showed a decrease when comparing the initial and final spectra, while the bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was molecularly identified with an identity percentage of 99.93%. The three cells connected in series managed to generate 2.90 V, enough to turn on a TV remote control. This research has great potential to be scalable if it is possible to increase the electrical parameters, generating great benefits for companies, farmers, and the population involved in the production and marketing of this fruit.

The Antioxidant Properties of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Its Biochemical, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Pathological Effects on Nicotine-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Liver

Medicago sativa Linn or alfalfa is a tonic plant rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals that is used to treat many diseases due to its pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of alfalfa methanolic extract (AME) on the prevention of liver damage caused by nicotine. The total phenols, flavonoids levels, and the free radical scavenging activity of its extract (IC50) were measured. In this study, 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups as control (untreated), N (nicotine only), T1, T2, and T3 (nicotine + AME 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day, respectively). AME (orally) and nicotine (intraperitoneal injection, 0.5 mg/kg/day) were then administered for 21 days. Weight gain, the liver-to-body weight ratio, liver functional enzymes, and the lipid profile were measured. Moreover, we evaluated oxidative stress, proinflammatory parameters, and histopathological changes in the liver. Total phenols, flavonoids, and IC50 were determined as $51.68\pm 0.62$  mg GAE/g, $18.55\pm 1.01$  mg QE/g, and $350.91\pm 16.46$  μg/ml, respectively. Nicotine changed the measured parameters to abnormal. AME increased weight gain, the liver-to-body weight ratio, and enzymatic antioxidant levels and decreased malondialdehyde, liver functional enzymes, and proinflammatory cytokine levels. The lipid profile and histopathological changes have also been improved by AME in a dose-dependent manner. The results showed that AME in a dose-dependent manner by improving the inflammation and oxidative damage could improve the liver damage caused by nicotine.

Physalis pubescens L. alleviates testicular disruptions associated with streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats, Rattus norvegicus

Testicular impairment is a serious complication of diabetes that is mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Physalis has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions. Thus, the present study investigated the ameliorative role of Physalis juice (PJ) prepared from the fruits against testicular damages in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups (n=6): control, orally administered 5 mL PJ/kg daily (PJ), injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 55 mg STZ/kg without treatment (STZ), or treated daily with PJ (STZ+PJ) or with 500 mg metformin/kg (STZ+Met), for 28 days. The STZ group showed a marked elevation in the blood glucose level by 230%, whereas remarkable declines in the serum levels of testosterone (44%), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (48%), and luteinizing hormone (LH) (36%), as compared to controls. In comparison to controls, the testis of the STZ group showed remarkable declines in the testis weight (15%), the glutathione (GSH) content (45%), mRNA and protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) (48 and 35%), mRNA and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (63 and 40%), catalase (CAT) (56 and 31%), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (51 and 44%), and glutathione reductase (GR) (62 and 43%), whereas marked elevations in the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β (169%), tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNFα) (85%), nitric oxide (NO) (96%), malondialdehyde (MDA) (83%), mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) (400 and 61%), and mRNA level of caspase-3 (Cas-3) (370%). Some histopathological alterations were observed in the testicular tissue of the STZ group. In contrast, PJ markedly alleviated all the abovementioned disturbances. In conclusion, PJ at a dose of 5 mL/kg attenuated the diabetes-associated testicular impairments, which may be due to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic actions.

The Physalis Improvement Project: blending research with community science: How community science can advance research: How community science can advance research

The Physalis community science project shows how citizen science not just communicates with and engages people in research but also how it can inform and benefit the professional scientists.

Brewing of craft beer enriched with freeze-dried cape gooseberry: a promising source of antioxidants

Abstract The craft beer segment has been driving the beverage market due to the many different formulation possibilities. Among craft beers, fruity beers provide the consumer with flavors previously unknown. In this sense, cape gooseberry is a tropical fruit known for its unique flavor, whose production is seasonal, which makes it difficult to use throughout the year. One possibility of incorporating cape gooseberry into fruity beers is to subject the fruit to freeze-drying, ensuring a constant stock of pulp. The present study aimed to produce a craft beer added with freeze-dried cape gooseberry, to add mineral compounds, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity to the final beverage. Three beer formulations with different concentrations of freeze-dried cape gooseberry (20, 40, and 60 g/L) were produced and characterized. The results showed that the addition of the fruit directly influenced the physicochemical parameters pH, Total Titratable Acidity (TTA), Total Soluble Solids (TSS), alcoholic concentration, color, bitterness, real extract, primitive extract, and turbidity. In addition, the beers with freeze-dried cape gooseberry showed an increase in the content of some minerals, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. Thus, the addition of cape gooseberry is a good option to improve the functional characteristics of the beer, providing a differentiated product.

Metabolic response to larval herbivory in three Physalis species

The Physalis genus includes species of commercial importance due to their ornamental, edible and medicinal properties. These qualities stem from their variety of biologically active compounds. We performed a metabolomic analysis of three Physalis species, i.e., P. angulata, P. grisea, and P. philadelphica, differing in domestication stage and cultivation practices, to determine the degree of inter-species metabolite variation and to test the hypothesis that these related species mount a common metabolomic response to foliar damage caused by Trichoplusia ni larvae. The results indicated that the metabolomic differences detected in the leaves of these species were species-specific and remained even after T. ni herbivory. They also show that each Physalis species displayed a unique response to insect herbivory. This study highlighted the metabolite variation present in Physalis spp. and the persistence of this variability when faced with biotic stressors. Furthermore, it sets an experimental precedent from which highly species-specific metabolites could be identified and subsequently used for plant breeding programs designed to increase insect resistance in Physalis and related plant species.

Plasma Metabolome Profiling by High-Performance Chemical Isotope-Labelling LC-MS after Acute and Medium-Term Intervention with Golden Berry Fruit (Physalis peruviana L.), Confirming Its Impact on Insulin-Associated Signaling Pathways

Purpose: Golden berry (Physalis peruviana L.) is an exotic fruit exported from Colombia to different countries around the world. A review of the literature tends to demonstrate a hypoglycaemic effect with an improvement in insulin sensitivity after oral ingestion of fruit extracts in animal models. However, little is known about their potential effects in humans, and very little is known about the mechanisms involved. This study aimed at identifying discriminant metabolites after acute and chronic intake of golden berry. Method: An untargeted metabolomics strategy using high-performance chemical isotope-labelling LC-MS was applied. The blood samples of eighteen healthy adults were analysed at baseline, at 6 h after the intake of 250 g of golden berry (acute intervention), and after 19 days of daily consumption of 150 g (medium-term intervention). Results: Forty-nine and 36 discriminant metabolites were identified with high confidence, respectively, after the acute and medium-term interventions. Taking into account up- and downregulated metabolites, three biological networks mainly involving insulin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) were identified. Conclusions: The biological intracellular networks identified are highly interconnected with the insulin signalling pathway, showing that berry intake may be associated with insulin signalling, which could reduce some risk factors related to metabolic syndrome. Primary registry of WHO.

Application of Gene Editing for Climate Change in Agriculture

Climate change imposes a severe threat to agricultural systems, food security, and human nutrition. Meanwhile, efforts in crop and livestock gene editing have been undertaken to improve performance across a range of traits. Many of the targeted phenotypes include attributes that could be beneficial for climate change adaptation. Here, we present examples of emerging gene editing applications and research initiatives that are aimed at the improvement of crops and livestock in response to climate change, and discuss technical limitations and opportunities therein. While only few applications of gene editing have been translated to agricultural production thus far, numerous studies in research settings have demonstrated the potential for potent applications to address climate change in the near future.

Integrating Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified and Sustainable Food Security

Indigenous communities across the globe, especially in rural areas, consume locally available plants known as Traditional Food Plants (TFPs) for their nutritional and health-related needs. Recent research shows that many TFPs are highly nutritious as they contain health beneficial metabolites, vitamins, mineral elements and other nutrients. Excessive reliance on the mainstream staple crops has its own disadvantages. Traditional food plants are nowadays considered important crops of the future and can act as supplementary foods for the burgeoning global population. They can also act as emergency foods in situations such as COVID-19 and in times of other pandemics. The current situation necessitates locally available alternative nutritious TFPs for sustainable food production. To increase the cultivation or improve the traits in TFPs, it is essential to understand the molecular basis of the genes that regulate some important traits such as nutritional components and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The integrated use of modern omics and gene editing technologies provide great opportunities to better understand the genetic and molecular basis of superior nutrient content, climate-resilient traits and adaptation to local agroclimatic zones. Recently, realizing the importance and benefits of TFPs, scientists have shown interest in the prospection and sequencing of TFPs for their improvements, cultivation and mainstreaming. Integrated omics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and ionomics are successfully used in plants and have provided a comprehensive understanding of gene-protein-metabolite networks. Combined use of omics and editing tools has led to successful editing of beneficial traits in several TFPs. This suggests that there is ample scope for improvement of TFPs for sustainable food production. In this article, we highlight the importance, scope and progress towards improvement of TFPs for valuable traits by integrated use of omics and gene editing techniques.