Phytochemicals screening, antioxidant capacity and chemometric characterization of four edible flowers from Brazil

Bioactivity of hydroalcoholic extracts from tropaeolum majus L. (tropaeolaceae) on the germination, initial plant development and cell cycle of Lactuca sativa L

Natural products are usually considered harmless; however, these substances need to be consumed with caution. Biological assays with plant models are a suitable alternative for prospective studies to assess natural product-initiated toxicity. The aim of this study was to examine the toxic potential of leaf and flower extracts derived from Tropaeolum majus L. a widely used plant in traditional medicine. Seeds of Lactuca sativa L. were exposed to T. majus extracts and based upon the seedling growth curve values, the 50% Inhibition Concentration (IC50) was calculated and applied for cell cycle analysis exposure. Both extracts contained organic acids, proteins, amino acids, and terpene steroids. Sesquiterpene lactones and depside were detected in leaf extracts. The higher concentration tested exhibited a marked phytotoxic effect. The extracts induced clastogenic, aneugenic cytotoxic, and potential mutagenic effects. The possible relationships between the classes of compounds found in the extracts and effects on cells and DNA were determined.

Bioactive compounds, nanoparticles synthesis, health benefits and potential utilization of edible flowers for the development of functional dairy products: a review

The food sector faces difficulty meeting the expectations for high-quality food items with safe and clean perceptions in light of customers' increased concern and economic sanctions of synthetic and hazardous chemicals. Besides their widespread use as decoration, flowers are known to be consumed as a traditional food or a component of complementary therapy in many different civilizations worldwide. Because of their nutritional importance as a source of nutrients, proteins, essential amino acids, bioactive compounds, etc., many edible flowers can be viewed as a food source rather than just a delicacy or decoration. Polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids are the phytochemicals that make up the bioactive components of edible flowers. These substances have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that can improve the nutritional profile of dairy products. Nanoparticles have become a cutting-edge strategy to make use of these advantages. In addition to encapsulating and protecting medicinal substances, nanoparticles made from edible flowers also enable regulated release, increasing bioavailability and durability. Numerous opportunities exist for the addition of edible flower- nanoparticles to dairy products. Their inclusion can add distinctive flavours, colours, and sensations, boosting the consumer's sensory perception. This review quotes the recent studies and discusses different aspects such as nanoparticle synthesis, quantification and characterization, health benefits, novel ingredient for the development of functional food, and the bioactive compounds for different varieties of edible flowers.Kindly check and confirm the edit made in the title.  The final title  is : "Bioactive compounds,nanoparticles synthesis, health benefits andpotential utilization of edible flowers for thedevelopment of functional dairy products: areview".

Graphical abstract

Exploring Plants with Flowers: From Therapeutic Nutritional Benefits to Innovative Sustainable Uses

Flowers have played a significant role in society, focusing on their aesthetic value rather than their food potential. This study's goal was to look into flowering plants for everything from health benefits to other possible applications. This review presents detailed information on 119 species of flowers with agri-food and health relevance. Data were collected on their family, species, common name, commonly used plant part, bioremediation applications, main chemical compounds, medicinal and gastronomic uses, and concentration of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds. In this respect, 87% of the floral species studied contain some toxic compounds, sometimes making them inedible, but specific molecules from these species have been used in medicine. Seventy-six percent can be consumed in low doses by infusion. In addition, 97% of the species studied are reported to have medicinal uses (32% immune system), and 63% could be used in the bioremediation of contaminated environments. Significantly, more than 50% of the species were only analysed for total concentrations of carotenoids and phenolic compounds, indicating a significant gap in identifying specific molecules of these bioactive compounds. These potential sources of bioactive compounds could transform the health and nutraceutical industries, offering innovative approaches to combat oxidative stress and promote optimal well-being.

Wild Edible Flowers of Western Himalayas: Nutritional Characterization, UHPLC-QTOF-IMS-Based Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Properties, and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Polyphenols

Four edible flowers commonly consumed in the Western Himalayan region, namely, Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar), Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium), Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile), and Tagetes erecta (Marigold), were characterized for their nutritional and phytochemical composition. Through the UHPLC-QTOF-IMS-based metabolomics approach, 131 compounds were tentatively identified consisting of phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, terpenoids, amino acids, and fatty acid derivatives. Kaempferol and quercetin glycosides for Kachnar, apigenin glycosides and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives for Chamomile, patulin and quercetin derivatives for Marigold, cyanidin and delphinidin glycosides for Nasturtium were the predicted marker metabolites identified through non-targeted metabolomics. Kachnar and Chamomile scored best in terms of macronutrients and essential micronutrients, respectively. Nasturtium contained high concentrations of α-linolenic acid, anthocyanins, and lutein. Kachnar contained the highest total phenolic acids (63.36 ± 0.38 mg GAE g-1), while Marigold contained the highest total flavonoids (118.90 ± 1.30 mg QUE g-1). Marigolds possessed excellent free radical scavenging and metal chelation activities. Chamomile exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibition activity, followed by Nasturtium. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestibility of flower extracts indicated that the bioaccessibility of phenolic acids was higher than that of flavonoids. Polyphenols from Nasturtium and Chamomile showed the highest bioaccessibility. The study is an attempt to characterize traditionally consumed edible flowers and promote their wider utilization in gastronomy and nutraceuticals.

Phytonutritional compounds and antioxidant activity of eight new edible flowers

In the last years, special attention has been given to the nutritional properties of food, and the edible flowers (EFs) represent an uncommon fresh product to characterise, with the aim to explore new species with peculiar aesthetic and the aromatic features. This work investigated some nutritional properties of eight new EFs, such as Begonia boliviensis A.DC. (pink and white varieties), Dahlia pinnata Cav., Salvia farinacea Benth., S. × jamensis J.Compton, S. 'Purple Queen' Tulbaghia simmleri Beauv. 'Alba', T. violacea Harv. 'Alba', chosen for their different colours and corolla morphologies. Primary and secondary metabolites have been determined. The highest protein content was found in T. violacea 'Alba' and D. pinnata. The Salvia species showed the highest soluble sugar content. The two Tulbaghia species were notable for hexose and ascorbic acid content. D. pinnata showed the highest polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoid content, with the highest antiradical activity.

Bioprospecting a Film-Forming System Loaded with Eugenia uniflora L. and Tropaeolum majus L. Leaf Extracts for Topical Application in Treating Skin Lesions

Natural products can be used as complements or as alternatives to synthetic drugs. Eugenia uniflora and Tropaeolum majus are natives of Brazil and have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to develop a film-forming system (FFS) loaded with plant extracts with the potential for treating microbial infections. E. uniflora and T. majus leaf extracts were prepared and characterized, and the individual and combined antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. The FFS was developed with different concentrations of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics. The combination of extracts showed a superior antioxidant effect compared to the individual extracts, justifying the use of the blend. FFS prepared with 4.5% PVA, 4.5% PVP, 7.81% E. uniflora extract, and 3.90% T. majus extract was adhesive, lacked scale formation, presented good malleability, and had a suitable pH for topical application. In addition, the viscosity at rest was satisfactory for maintaining stability; water solubility was adequate; skin permeation was low; and the antimicrobial effect was superior to that of the individual extracts. Therefore, the developed FFS is promising for the differentiated treatment of skin lesions through topical application.

Anthocyanins and Carotenoids Characterization in Flowers and Leaves of Cyclamen Genotypes Linked with Bioactivities Using Multivariate Analysis Techniques

The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare in vitro antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and the individual carotenoids and anthocyanins content of methanol extracts of the Cyclamen genotypes: Persian cyclamen accessions (Cyclamen persicum Mill.), sowbread (C. mirabile Hildebr.), and ivy-leaved cyclamen (C. hederifolium Mill.) aerial parts. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the presence of five individual carotenoids (i.e., neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and cis-β-carotene) as the main compounds in Cyclamen leaves, and the presence of seven individual anthocycanins (i.e., cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin-rutinoside, peonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, and malvidin-rutinoside) in Cyclamen flowers reported, hereby, for the first time. The highest phenolic content was found in the leaves of LC6, C. mirabile (46.32 ± 0.14 mg/g gallic acid equivalents [GAE]), and in the flowers of C. persicum Merengue Magenta (FC15) (58.63 ± 0.17 mg/g GAE), whereas the highest flavonoid content was reported in C. persicum Halios Falbala leaves, namely LC9 (54.90 ± 0.27 mg/g quercetin equivalents [QE]) and in flowers of C. persicum Victora (FC2) (77.87 ± 0.25 mg/g QE). The highest antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays was reported in C. persicum Dark Violet (LC1) and Victoria (LC2), whereas C. mirabile (LC6) had the highest activity in the TEAC assay. In flowers, high antioxidant activities in DPPH and TEAC were noticed in C. persicum Superserie Red (FC7) and Dark Violet (FC1), respectively, and Halios Falbala (FC9) exhibited the highest activity in the TEAC assay. Additionally, FC9 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in almost all tested bacteria compared with the leaves extracts. Furthermore, the highest in vitro citotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells was noticed in C. hederifolium LC18 (56.71-69.35%) and FC18 (40.07-41.43%), with a lower effect against BJ cells demonstrating selective toxicity. The above findings, highlight the potential use of the Cyclamen flower and leaf extracts as significant anticancer agents along with their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

High throughput analytical approach based on μQuEChERS combined with UHPLC-PDA for analysis of bioactive secondary metabolites in edible flowers

Mallow blue (Malva sylvestris L.), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) and nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.), are common edible flowers rich in bioactive secondary metabolites (BASMs) whose use in sophisticated gastronomy present currently as increasing trend. In this study the BASMs profile of these edible flowers was established using an emerging green extraction technique, μQuEChERS followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detection system (UHPLC-PDA). After validation the μQuEChERS/UHPLC-PDA methodology allow to identify that apigenin and epigallocatechin gallate are the most abundant BASMs in mallow blue flowers, while catechin and dicaffeoylquinic acid are predominant in hibiscus flowers, and myricitrin and dicaffeoylquinic acid in nasturtium flowers. Total polyphenol content is the highest in the extract of hibiscus. Nasturtium shows the greatest radical scavenging activity. The results revealed that these flowers constitute a potential source of BASMs with different bioactive properties suggesting its use in design of new functional foods.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Properties of 2 Taxa of Macadamia Flowers

This study investigated the differences in phenolic composition and antioxidant properties among 4 extracts (eg,70% acetone, 70% methanol, 70% ethanol, and water) of 2 taxa of Macadamia flowers (“Nanya No.2” and “HAES695” cultivars). The results showed that the phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of the extracts were taxa- and solvent-dependent. “Nanya No.2” flowers possessed remarkably more phenolics and flavonoids, with more robust antioxidant activities than “HAES695”. The 70% acetone extract exhibited the highest polyphenol levels and antioxidant capacities, indicating that 70% acetone would be the most efficient solvent for extracting phenolic antioxidants from macadamia flowers. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed rutin and catechin as the richest compounds in the extracts of both cultivars. Ferulic acid, catechin, phlorizin, quercetin, and kaempferol positively correlated with the antioxidant properties of the macadamia flowers. These results provide valuable information for utilizing macadamia flowers in antioxidant foods.

Biochemistry of Amaranthus polyphenols and their potential benefits on gut ecosystem: A comprehensive review of the literature

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Amaranthus is phytonutrients-rich plant distributed worldwide and has been recognized as having medicinal value in traditional use against several diseases and conditions. There are a large amount of research data on the polyphenol profiles of Amaranthus plants and their links with potential benefits against gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Amaranthus phenolic compounds and their microbial metabolites, as well as the biological and/or pharmacological effects of those compounds/metabolites.

METHODOLOGY

The relevant information about the genus Amaranthus was collected from various sources and databases, including Google Scholar, Google Books, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and other internet sources. The World Flora Online (2021) database was used to verify the scientific names of the plants.

RESULTS

Comprehensive review of identified compounds in Amaranthus plants revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and coumarins in each part of the plants. The biotransformation by gut microbiota enzymes prominently produces diverse bioactive metabolites that are potentially active than their precursors. Lines of the evidence support the beneficial roles of Amaranthus extracts in several gastrointestinal diseases, particularly with the polar extracts of several plant parts. Dietary fibers in Amaranthus plants also coordinate the alteration of gut microbiota-related metabolisms and may be beneficial to certain gastrointestinal disorders in particular, such as constipation.

CONCLUSIONS

Amaranthus plants are rich in polyphenols and dietary fibers. Several microbial metabolites are biologically active, so alteration of gut microbiota is largely linked to the metabolic feature of the plants. Based on the evidence available to date, several Amaranthus plants containing a combination of phytonutrients, particularly polyphenols and dietary fibers, may be a promising candidate that is of interest to be further developed for use in the treatment of certain gastrointestinal conditions/disorders.

The Compositional Aspects of Edible Flowers as an Emerging Horticultural Product

Edible flowers are becoming very popular, as consumers are seeking healthier and more attractive food products that can improve their diet aesthetics and diversify their dietary sources of micronutrients. The great variety of flowers that can be eaten is also associated with high variability in chemical composition, especially in bioactive compounds content that may significantly contribute to human health. The advanced analytical techniques allowed us to reveal the chemical composition of edible flowers and identify new compounds and effects that were not known until recently. Considering the numerous species of edible flowers, the present review aims to categorize the various species depending on their chemical composition and also to present the main groups of compounds that are usually present in the species that are most commonly used for culinary purposes. Moreover, special attention is given to those species that contain potentially toxic or poisonous compounds as their integration in human diets should be carefully considered. In conclusion, the present review provides useful information regarding the chemical composition and the main groups of chemical compounds that are present in the flowers of the most common species.

The use of alternative food sources to improve health and guarantee access and food intake

To feed and provide Food Security to all people in the world is a big challenge to be achieved with the 2030 Agenda. Undernutrition and obesity are to the opposite of a healthy nutritional status. Both conditions are associated with unbalanced nutrition, absence of food or excess of non-nutritive foods intake. These two nutritional conditions associated with food production are closely related to some goals highlighted by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda to achieve sustainable world development. In this context, the search for alternative foods whose sustainable production and high nutritional quality guarantee regular access to food for the population must be encouraged. Alternative foods can contribute to Food Security in many ways as they contribute to the local economy and income generation. Popularizing and demystifying the uses of unconventional food plants, ancestral grains, flowers, meliponiculture products, and edible insects as sources of nutrients and non-nutrients is another challenge. Herein, we present an overview of alternative foods - some of them cultivated mostly in Brazil - that can be explored as sources of nutrients to fight hunger and malnutrition, improve food production and the economic growth of nations.

Chemical, Nutritional and Sensory Characteristics of Six Ornamental Edible Flowers Species

Ornamental edible flowers can be used as novel nutraceutical sources with valuable biological properties. The purpose of this study was to establish nutritional, chemical, and sensory characteristics, antioxidant capacity (AC), and the relationship between their bioactive components and AC. The selected flowers Begonia × tuberhybrida, Tropaeolum majus, Calendula officinalis, Rosa, Hemerocallis, and Tagetes patula, can be easily collected due to their larger size. Their methanolic extracts were spectrophotometrically determined for polyphenols, flavonoids, and AC. Mineral elements were analyzed by atomic-absorption spectroscopy; crude protein was quantified by the Kjeldahl method. Eventually, 30 panelists evaluated sensory properties in 11 attributes. In addition, this study may serve to popularize selected blossoms. In flowers the contents of minerals were in this order: K > Ca > P > Mg > Na > Zn > Mn > Fe > Cu > Mo. AC ranged between 4.11 and 7.94 g of ascorbic acid equivalents/kg of fresh mass. The correlation coefficients between AC-total phenolics and AC-total flavonoids were r = 0.73* and r = 0.58*, respectively. It is also possible to observe a strong correlation between mineral elements and bioactive compounds. Hemerocallis was rated as the best and most tasteful; additionally, it exhibited the highest AC, total phenolic and flavonoid contents.

Antioxidant and anticancer potentials of edible flowers: where do we stand?

Edible flowers are attracting special therapeutic attention and their administration is on the rise. Edible flowers play pivotal modulatory roles on oxidative stress and related interconnected apoptotic/inflammatory pathways toward the treatment of cancer. In this review, we highlighted the phytochemical content and therapeutic applications of edible flowers, as well as their modulatory potential on the oxidative stress pathways and apoptotic/inflammatory mediators, resulting in anticancer effects. Edible flowers are promising sources of phytochemicals (e.g., phenolic compounds, carotenoids, terpenoids) with several therapeutic effects. They possess anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-depressant, anxiolytic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Edible flowers potentially modulate oxidative stress by targeting erythroid nuclear transcription factor-2/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Nrf2/ERK/MAPK), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant response elements (AREs). As the interconnected pathways to oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), interleukins (ILs) as well as apoptotic pathways such as Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2, caspase and cytochrome C are critical targets of edible flowers in combating cancer. In this regard, edible flowers could play promising anticancer effects by targeting oxidative stress and downstream dysregulated pathways.

Alkylamide Profiling of Pericarps Coupled with Chemometric Analysis to Distinguish Prickly Ash Pericarps

Because of extensive cultivation areas, various cultivars, nonstandard naming notations, and morphology similarity among relative cultivars, adulteration and associated business fraud may happen in the marketplaces of prickly ash pericarps due to higher financial gain and high-frequency trading. This study presents variations in the chemical components and contents of different prickly ash species from different plantations. Alkylamide profiling of pericarps derived from Zanthoxylum armatum, Z. bungeanum, and some relative Zanthoxylum species from 72 plantations across China were tested using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Then, several chemometrics were applied to classify the prickly ash pericarps to reveal potential indicators that distinguish prickly ash pericarps and to identify the key factors that affect pericarp alkylamide profiling. The dominating alkylamides in the prickly ash pericarps were Z. piperitum (ZP)-amide C (0–20.64 mg/g) and ZP-amide D (0–30.43 mg/g). Alkylamide profiling of prickly ash pericarps varied significantly across species and geographical variations. ZP-amide D in prickly ash pericarps was identified as a potential indicator to distinguish prickly ash species. Longitude and aluminum content in soils were identified as key factors that affected alkylamide profiling of prickly ash pericarps. This study provides a useful tool to classify prickly ash species based on pericarp alkylamide profiling and to determine the key influence factors on pericarp alkylamide variations.

An update on the health benefits promoted by edible flowers and involved mechanisms

The aim of this review is to provide new findings on health effects of edible flowers since 2015. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-osteoporosis, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive have been reviewed, and the effective concentrations of flower extracts have been summarized. Among all the health benefits mentioned, anti-osteoporosis, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive have rarely been mentioned before 2015. Some health benefits mechanisms of edible flowers were discussed frequently after 2015. Some newly found phytochemicals such as polysaccharides were shown to be beneficial to human health. Species of Rosa, Chrysanthemum, and Osmanthus have been reported to exert different health effects on human. For the toxicity studies, the safe level of flower extracts in cell and animal models were at hundreds of parts per million (ppm) level. In consideration of health promoting effects and toxicities of edible flowers, they could serve as potential natural health products for different health benefits.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion and probiotics fermentation impact on bioaccessbility of phenolics compounds and antioxidant capacity of some native and exotic fruit residues with potential antidiabetic effects

A bioaccessibility study on polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity after the in vitro simulated digestion was evaluated for extract of fruit (caja-umbu, cashew apple, canafistula, cupuassu, soursop, manguba and strawberry) residues. The results show that ORAC assay presented a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in bioaccessibility varying from 35.99 ± 0.02% (caja-umbu residue) to 339.83 ± 0.06% (cupuassu residue) after the digestion process. Approximately 15.01 ± 1.54 to 237.77 ± 4.10% of phenolic compounds were bioaccessible after probiotics fermentation. The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds were performed through the UHPLC-QDa-MS system. Catechin and epicatechin were widely detected in all fruit residues. After the gastrointestinal digestion and probiotics fermentation the contents of simple phenolics and hydroxybenzoic acids increased. Also, the α-amylase inhibitory activity exhibited a maximum value of 98.66 ± 1.41% for soursop residue. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, bioaccessibility study on caja-umbu, canafistula and manguba residues was performed in association with antidiabetic effects. The soursop residue presented the highest bioaccessibility and can be potentially explored for application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the joint consumption of probiotics and phytochemicals are essential for the effective assimilation by the human organism.

Effect of modified atmosphere packaging on overall appearance and nutraceutical quality of pot marigold held at 5 °C

The effectiveness of passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on chemical and quality properties of calendula flowers was studied during ten days of storage at 5 °C. Weight loss of flowers wrapped with continuous and micro-perforated-films (2-3%), was significantly lower than control (unwrapped flowers) (about 30%) and those wrapped with macro-perforated film (about 7%). At the end of storage unwrapped flowers were judged unmarketable being severely wilted and shriveled, while all packaged ones were still fresh and marketable. On day 10, the fructose concentration of control flowers decreased by 74%. Continuous and micro-perforated films delayed the decline of fructose concentration over storage. Sucrose concentration decreased with storage in control flowers, while in continuous film wrapped flowers it increased. After 10 d of storage, the total phenols' concentration of all packaged flowers was significantly higher than control and similar to the initial value (2.58 ± 0.02 g 100 g^-1 d.w.). Thirteen carotenoids were identified by HPLC-MS. The initial β carotene concentration (65.72 ± 0.09 mg 100 g^-1 d.w.) did not change in flowers wrapped with macro- and micro-perforated films, in contrast to the other treatments. Lycopene concentration strongly decreased in control flowers, while minor losses occurred in packaged ones. Laser micro-perforated film, being a good compromise between humidity retention inside the packages and the permeability of the film, seems to be the best choice to extend the storage life of calendula flowers.