Effects of light intensities and varying watering intervals on growth, tissue nutrient content and antifungal activity of hydroponic cultivated Tulbaghia violacea L. under greenhouse conditions

Low-Potassium Fruits and Vegetables: Research Progress and Prospects

With the increasing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the improved recognition of nutritional therapy, research on low-potassium (LK) fruits and vegetables for CKD patients has gained global attention. Despite its already commercial availability primarily in Japan, public awareness remains limited, and cultivation methods lack a comprehensive strategy. This review offers an extensive examination of the developmental significance, current cultivation techniques, and existing limitations of functional LK fruits and vegetables with the objective of providing guidance and inspiration for their exploitation. Additionally, this review investigates various factors influencing K content, including varieties, temperature, light, exogenous substances, harvest time, and harvest parts, with a focus on optimizing production methods to enhance potassium utilization efficiency (KUE) and decrease the K content in plants. Finally, the review outlines the shortcomings and prospects of research on LK fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary research (in agriculture technology, medicine, and business) for patients with CKD and the future development of this field.

The Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Tulbaghia, Allium, Crinum and Cyrtanthus: ‘Talented’ Taxa from the Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllidaceae is a significant source of bioactive phytochemicals with a strong propensity to develop new drugs. The genera Allium, Tulbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum biosynthesize novel alkaloids and other phytochemicals with traditional and pharmacological uses. Amaryllidaceae biomolecules exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects. Traditionally, natural products from Amaryllidaceae are utilized to treat non-communicable and infectious human diseases. Galanthamine, a drug from this family, is clinically relevant in treating the neurocognitive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, which underscores the importance of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Although Amaryllidaceae provide a plethora of biologically active compounds, there is tardiness in their development into clinically pliable medicines. Other genera, including Cyrtanthus and Tulbaghia, have received little attention as potential sources of promising drug candidates. Given the reciprocal relationship of the increasing burden of human diseases and limited availability of medicinal therapies, more rapid drug discovery and development are desirable. To expedite clinically relevant drug development, we present here evidence on bioactive compounds from the genera Allium, Tulgbaghia, Cyrtanthus and Crinum and describe their traditional and pharmacological applications.