Chemical composition and antioxidant activity in different tissues of brassica vegetables

Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Brassica napus L. Seeds via HPTLC, LC-QToF, and Anatomical Investigation

The Brassicaceae family, commonly referred to as cruciferous plants, is globally cultivated and consumed, with the Brassica genus being particularly renowned for its functional components. These vegetables are rich sources of nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals, garnering increased attention in recent years. This study presents a comprehensive microscopic, chromatographic, and spectroscopic characterization of Brassica napus L. seeds from Kazakhstan aimed at elucidating their morphological features and chemical composition. Microscopic analysis revealed distinct localization of flavonoids, total lipids, and alkaloids. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of seed extracts demonstrated a complex chemical profile with significant quantities of non-polar compounds in the hexane extracts. Additionally, methanolic extracts revealed the presence of diverse chemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and glucosinolates. The chemical composition exhibited varietal differences across different Brassica species, with B. napus L. seeds showing higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) analysis provided insights into the chemical composition, with sinapine isomers, feruloyl, and sinapoyl choline derivatives as major compounds in the seeds. This study contributes to a better understanding of the chemical diversity and quality control methods' approximations of B. napus L. seeds, highlighting their importance in functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Exogenous citric acid, salicylic acid, and putrescine treatments preserve the postharvest quality and physicochemical properties of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) during cold storage

To extend the postharvest storage life of broccoli samples (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica), an exogenous application of citric acid (CA), salicylic acid (SA), and putrescine (PUT) was tested in multiple combinations (0.5 and 1 mM) at 4 ± 0.5°C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) for 21 days (d). The weight loss (WL), respiration rate (RR), total soluble solids (TSS), pH, color (L*, a*, b*, chroma, and hue angle), proximate and mineral contents, phenolic and flavonoid contents, and other biochemical properties of the treated and untreated broccoli samples were evaluated throughout the storage duration. The lowest WL was observed when exposed to 0.5 mM of PUT. 1 mM CA and PUT treatments were affected by RR, depending on storage conditions. The lowest TSS content was observed in broccoli samples treated with 0.5 mM CA among all treatments. The chroma value of the samples was preserved by the 0.5 mM SA treatment. The most abundant element in broccoli samples was potassium in the control application, followed by a 1 mM SA treatment. In addition, the protein content was the highest in the 1 mM PUT treatment. The highest vitamin C was determined in the 1 mM CA treatment, and the most abundant vanillic acid was found in broccoli exposed to the 0.5 mM and treatment. Glucose content was determined at the lowest level in the 0.5 mM SA treatment, while higher increases occurred in other treatments. In terms of these findings, 1 mM CA, 1 mM SA, and 1 mM PUT delay WL, RR, and color degradation and prolong the storage life of broccoli samples stored at 4 ± 0.5°C. It was concluded that the biochemical content, fresh weight, and green color of broccoli samples throughout postharvest and storage can be maintained longer by exogenous application of these natural compounds. Therefore, we recommend 1 mM PUT and 1 mM CA treatments to maintain the quality of broccoli by minimizing losses in morphological properties, mineral, and biochemical compositions during postharvest storage.

Nutritive evaluation of dried cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) waste meal as feed for grower-finisher pigs

This research investigated the nutritive value of dried cabbage waste meal (CWM) as feed for grower-finisher pigs. One hundred crossbred (Large white X Landrace; 86.10 ± 0.15 kg BW) clinically certified grower-finisher pigs of equal sexes were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. The control diet (T0 Diet) contained 1000 g kg-1DM concentrate without CWM, while diets T50, T100, T150 and T200 had 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg-1 DM levels of inclusion of CWM, respectively, replacing parts of the total mixed ration (TMR). Data were collected on growth performance, carcass indices, blood biochemical profiles, and economics characteristics of pigs. The study lasted for 8 weeks. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Feed intake (2336.74-2651.01 g/d) increased (p < 0.05) while weight gain (913.04-877.53 g/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.56-3.02) were better (p < 0.05) among pigs fed T0, T50 and T100 diets. Carcass parameters followed the same trend as growth indices (p < 0.05). Red blood cell counts (6.04-8.57 × 1012/L), haemoglobin (15.10-18.35 g/dl) and neutrophils (21.28-25.88%) concentrations increased (p < 0.05) among pigs fed cabbage waste meal. Aspartate aminotransferase concentrations (33.25-40.23 U/L) increased (p < 0.05) significantly among pigs fed T100, T150 and T200 diets. Total cost of feeding (61.19-56.27 $) reduced (p < 0.05) with similar gross benefits (48.97-52.30 $) across the treatment groups. The results suggest that up to 100 g kg-1 CWM could be incorporated into pig diets to improve their growth performance and support profitable pig production.

Assessment of the effect of drying on Brassica greens via a multiplex approach based on LC-QTOF-MS/MS, molecular networking, and chemometrics along with their antioxidant and anticancer activities

Turnip (Brassica rapa var rapa L.) leaves are a rich source of versatile bioactive phytochemicals with great potential in the food and herbal industries. However, the effect of drying on its constituents has never been studied before. Hereto, three drying techniques were compared, namely, lyophilization (LY), vacuum oven (VO), and shade drying (SD). Chemical profiling utilizing liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) combined with chemometrics showed the different impacts of the drying methods on the phytochemical composition of the alcoholic leaf extracts. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of the LC-QTOF-MS/MS data showed distinct distant clustering across the three drying techniques. Loading plots and VIP scores demonstrated that sinapic acid, isorhamnetin glycosides, and sinapoyl malate were key markers for LY samples. Meanwhile, oxygenated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were characteristic for SD samples and oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids and verbascoside were characteristic for VO samples. LY resulted in the highest total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents followed by SD and VO. LY and SD samples had much higher antioxidant activity than VO measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and iron metal chelation assays. According to the anticancer activity, the drying methods were ranked in descending order as SD > LY ≫ VO when tested against colon, breast, liver, and lung cancer cell lines. Among the identified compounds, flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids were key metabolites responsible for the anticancer activity as revealed by partial least squares (PLS) regression and correlation analyses. In conclusion, compared to LY, SD projected out as a cost-effective drying method without compromising the phytochemical and biological activities of Brassica greens. The current findings lay the foundation for further studies concerned with the valorization of Brassica greens.

Dried cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) waste meal decreases blood cholesterol but does not alter growth performance, and physiological indices of weaned pigs

The study investigated the potentials of dried cabbage waste meal (DCWM) on growth performance, blood biochemical characteristics, physiological indices, and economics of production of weaned pigs. Ninety crossbred (Large white X Landrace; 8.01 ± 0.18 kg body weight) clinically certified weaned pigs of equal sexes were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments containing DCWM. Each treatment consisted of 18 pigs replicated thrice in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 (control diet) contained no DCWM whereas diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg levels of inclusion of DCWM, respectively, replacing parts of the feed. The study lasted for 8-weeks. Feed and water were available ad-libitum. Average daily feed intake (715.76-780.03 g/d) increased (p < 0.05) while average daily weight (294.17-301.74 g/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.39-2.65) were similar (p > 0.05). White blood cell (12.11-14.62 × 109/L), lymphocytes (62.93-70.30%), Uric acid (7.74-9.99 mmol/L), HDL (0.89-1.27 mmol/L) and K (130.90-145.72 mmol/L) concentrations increased (p < 0.05) whereas cholesterol (2.30-5.06 mmol/L) and triglyceride (0.33-0.87 mmol/L) concentrations decreased (p < 0.05) in response to increased DCWM in the diets. Total cost of feeding ($17.96-20.89) reduced (p < 0.05) while gross benefits ($48.97-52.30) were significantly better (p < 0.05) for pigs fed 100, 150 and 200 g/kg DCWM compared to those fed 0 and 50 g/kg diets. DCWM in pig diets up to 200 g/kg had positive influence on blood cholesterol and economics of production.

Low-Temperature Vacuum Drying on Broccoli: Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Proliferative Properties Regarding Other Drying Methods

Low-temperature vacuum drying (LTVD) has shown great potential for drying vegetables. It could avoid excessive degradations of active compounds with potential therapeutic agents. In this study, the effect on several relevant bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-proliferative activity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) were evaluated. Effects of other drying methods, including vacuum drying (VD), convective drying (CD), infrared drying (IRD), and freeze drying (FD), were also comparatively evaluated. The results of all dried samples showed high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents (of up to 71.3%) and essential amino acid contents (of up to 8.63%). The LTVD method stands out above the other drying methods, since it obtained the highest content of total phenols, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid. Both the LTVD and CD samples demonstrated high anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. These CD and LTVD samples were also the most active against the breast carcinoma MDA-MB-23 cell line. Due to the good retention of bioactive compounds via LTVD, the obtained dried broccoli here can be used in a near time as an ingredient for the development of novel natural products with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects.

Chemical Profile of Turnip According to the Plant Part and the Cultivar: A Multivariate Approach

Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) is a cruciferous plant cultivated worldwide that serves as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Most turnip studies have focused on a few compounds or on part of the plant. The establishment of a complete chemical profile of different plant parts would facilitate its use for nutritional and medicinal purposes. In the current study, mineral elements, soluble sugars, free amino acids (FAA), total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and glucosinolates (GS) were quantified in the leaves, stems, and roots. Results were compared for 20 strains of turnip. The outcomes showed significant differences between parts of the plant and strains. The leaves exhibited the highest TF, TP, indispensable FAA, and microelement levels, and they showed a higher GS. Moreover, the stems had a high content of GS and macroelements. Furthermore, the roots showed high levels of free sugars and total FAA. The findings of this work provide the basis for utilizing each part of the turnip plant based on its chemical composition.

Effect of Hot- and Cold-Water Treatment on Broccoli Bioactive Compounds, Oxidative Stress Parameters and Biological Effects of Their Extracts

The goal of this work was to define resistant and susceptible variables of young broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. cymosa Duch.) plants treated with cold and hot water. Additionally, we wanted to single out variables that could potentially be used as biomarkers of cold/hot-water stress in broccoli. Hot water changed more variables (72%) of young broccoli than cold water (24%) treatment. Hot water increased the concentration of vitamin C for 33%, hydrogen peroxide for 10%, malondialdehyde for 28%, and proline for 147%. Extracts of broccoli stressed with hot water were significantly more efficient in the inhibition of α-glucosidase (65.85 ± 4.85% compared to 52.00 ± 5.16% of control plants), while those of cold-water-stressed broccoli were more efficient in the inhibition of α-amylase (19.85 ± 2.70% compared to 13.26 ± 2.36% of control plants). Total glucosinolates and soluble sugars were affected by hot and cold water in an opposite way, which is why they could be used as biomarkers of hot/cold-water stress in broccoli. The possibility of using temperature stress to grow broccoli enriched with compounds of interest to human health should be further investigated.

Domestication provides durum wheat with protection from locust herbivory

Lower plant resistance to herbivores following domestication has been suggested as the main cause for higher feeding damage in crops than in wild progenitors. While herbivore compensatory feeding has also been proposed as a possible mechanism for raised damage in crops with low nutritional quality, predictions regarding the effects of plant domestication on nutritional quality for herbivores remain unclear. In particular, data on primary metabolites, even major macronutrients, measured in the organs consumed by herbivores, are scarce. In this study, we used a collection of 10 accessions of wild ancestors and 10 accessions of modern progenies of Triticum turgidum to examine whether feeding damage and selectivity by nymphs of Locusta migratoria primarily depended on five leaf traits related to structural resistance or nutrient profiles. Our results unexpectedly showed that locusts favored wild ancestors over domesticated accessions and that leaf toughness and nitrogen and soluble protein contents increased with the domestication process. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship between soluble protein and digestible carbohydrates was found to poorly meet the specific requirements of the herbivore, in all wheat accessions, both wild and modern. The increase in leaf structural resistance to herbivores in domesticated tetraploid wheat accessions suggested that resource allocation trade-offs between growth and herbivory resistance may have been disrupted by domestication in the vegetative organs of this species. Since domestication did not result in a loss of nutritional quality in the leaves of the tetraploid wheat, our results rather provides evidence for a role of the content of plants in nonnutritive nitrogenous secondary compounds, possibly deterrent or toxic, at least for grasshopper herbivores.

Bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and mineral content of bróquil: A traditional crop of Brassica oleracea var. italica

Brassicaceae edible plants are rich in bioactive compounds and promote health benefits. However, there is less interest in expanding knowledge about the Brassica cultivars to date. In particular, underutilized species and local cultivars could constitute a source of agrodiversity in adapting to the territory with likely higher contents of nutraceutical compounds. In this context, Bróquil (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a traditional Brassicaceae crop grown in the Spanish region of Aragón. Currently, it is cultivated mainly in family orchards for autoconsumption and, in minority, in small farms for local markets. This study evaluates a collection of 13 bróquil landraces from the Spanish Vegetable Genebank of the Agrifood Research and Technology Center of Zaragoza (BGHZ-CITA), describing their mineral contents, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activities, including a broccoli commercial variety "Parthenon" as the control. The study reports data on the health-promoting nutrients and antioxidants of bróquil for the first time. Under our experimental conditions, we found that bróquil has a great variability for these compounds that showed on average similar or higher levels than the broccoli control. The different bróquil landraces also revealed variability in both intraccessions and interaccessions due to the lack of a formal breeding selection. Despite this variability, we highlight accession HB5 that corresponds to Headed Bróquil BGHZ6685. In particular, we can stand out its antioxidant activity of 87.07 ± 0.81%I, total phenolic content of 13.21 ± 0.53 mg GAE g^-1 dw, total flavonoid content of 14.50 ± 1.29 mg QE g^-1 dw, total glucosinolate content of 43.70 ± 1.09 mg SnE g^-1 dw, and vitamin C content of 7.21 ± 0.13 mg AA g^-1 dw. Regarding bróquil mineral composition, K was the highest macroelement (22.66-33.62 mg g^-1 dw), followed by Ca, P, and S whose values were relatively lower compared to K. Mg and Na showed the lowest values. Among the microelements evaluated (Mn, Zn, and Fe), iron was the most abundant detected, higher in all bróquil accessions than in broccoli, except for one accession. Therefore, the results reported for bróquil landraces show promising nutritional quality. This could lead to an increase in agrobiodiversity and contribute to a more diversified and healthy diet.

Optimized Box-Behnken Design Combined Response Surface Methodology to Determine Calcium and Iron Contents Using Visible, Atomic Emission and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry in Vegetables and Wastewater Samples

BACKGROUND

Calcium and iron are crucial essential minerals. Iron is mainly responsible for transporting oxygen in the body and the immune system. In comparison, calcium's primary function is in human bones and teeth. Due to that, it is vital to quantify the amount in vegetables.

OBJECTIVE

Optimization and validation of three analytical procedures, visible, atomic emission spectrophotometry (AES), and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), were developed to determine calcium and iron in vegetables and wastewater samples using response surface methodology (RSM) via Box-Behnken design (BBD). The design helps to reduce experiment trials with selected variables to find a correlation between them and their respective dependent variables.

METHODS

Method I was developed to quantify calcium in vegetables mixed with concentrated 3M HNO3 and heated to reflux as per the BBD. Then it was cooled, filtered, and completed with 3M HNO3 to be carried out utilizing AES and AAS. For method II, vegetables were mixed with nitric acid and sulfuric acid solution with an optimized 5M KSCN solution, which was computed using the AAS and visible spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

First, percentage of water content was calculated for all vegetables, higher in malabar spinach and lower in peas. The calcium and iron contents were present within 0.59-2.68 mg and 35.8-211.5 mg, respectively, in 100 g of vegetables. The results showed a higher amount of iron was available in spinach and a lower amount in okra. In contrast, the highest calcium amount was present in broccoli and the lowest amount was in peas. The calcium and iron content were between 0.015-137.25 and 0.01-147.85 µg/mL in the wastewater samples.

CONCLUSIONS

These methods can help to determine the amount of calcium and iron for the quality control samples in research and development, food, and the environmental industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Three validated analytical techniques quantify calcium and iron in vegetables and wastewater samples. The RSM-BBD optimized the method and determined its crucial factors.

Extracts from Cabbage Leaves: Preliminary Results towards a “Universal” Highly-Performant Antibacterial and Antifungal Natural Mixture

Simple Summary

The large antibiotic consumption in the clinical, veterinary, and agricultural fields has resulted in a tremendous flow of antibiotics into the environment. This has led to enormous selective pressures driving the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria and yeasts. For this reason, the World Health Organization is promoting research to discover new natural products competitive with synthetic drugs in clinical performances. Compared with conventional drugs, the production of natural pharmaceuticals often has a lower environmental impact and lower economic costs of processes, especially when they originate from agricultural wastes. In the context of a circular economy, we aimed to successfully present preliminary results for the valorization of agricultural waste produced in cabbage cultivation by isolating a highly performant antibacterial and antifungal lipophilic natural mixture from cabbage leaves.

Abstract

As dramatically experienced in the recent world pandemic, viral, bacterial, fungal pathogens constitute very serious concerns in the global context of human health. Regarding this issue, the World Health Organization has promoted research studies that aim to develop new strategies using natural products. Although they are often competitive with synthetic pharmaceuticales in clinical performance, they lack their critical drawbacks, i.e., the environmental impact and the high economic costs of processing. In this paper, the isolation of a highly performant antibacterial and antifungal lipophilic natural mixture from leaves of savoy and white cabbages is proposed as successful preliminary results for the valorization of agricultural waste produced in cabbage cultivation. The fraction was chemically extracted from vegetables with diethyl ether and tested against two Candida species, as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus reference strains. All the different fractions (active and not active) were chemically characterized by vibrational FT-IR spectroscopy and GC-MS analyses. The extracts showed high growth-inhibition performance on pathogens, thus demonstrating strong application potential. We think that this work, despite being at a preliminary stage, is very promising, both from pharmaceutical and industrial points of view, and can be proposed as a proof of concept for the recovery of agricultural production wastes.

The hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of Kavolì® aqueous extract, a mixture of Brassica oleracea leaves, in a rat model of NAFLD

Herein we characterized the bioactive metabolites of the aqueous extract of Kavolì®, a commercial product composed of a mixture of Brassica oleracea leaves, and assessed its potential ameliorating effects in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Kavolì® extract showed high levels of bioactive compounds and strong in vitro antioxidant activities. Chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids were identified as the most representative polyphenols. The administration of brassica extract to steatotic rats significantly ameliorated the levels of blood lipids and transaminases, and lipid content and inflammatory markers in liver. Oxidative stress parameters were significantly improved in both liver and brain of steatotic rats. Moreover, plasma and feces levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were bring back close to control values by Kavolì® treatment, in spite of high fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced alterations. The efficacy of Kavolì® in treating hypercholesterolemia, reducing the level of inflammation and cardiovascular disease biomarkers, steatosis and oxidative stress parameters, as well as the ability in modulating SCFAs levels is probably related to the bioactive compounds of the water extract administered to the rat model of NAFLD. In particular, the ameliorating effects are largely attributable to the high content in polyphenols observed in our study.

Inter-Varietal Variation in Phenolic Profile, Sugar Contents, Antioxidant, Anti-Proliferative and Antibacterial Activities of Selected Brassica Species

The main objective of this research work was to evaluate the variation in nutritional profile, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and antibacterial activities of selected species of Brassica. Five locally grown Brassica species (cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage, white cabbage and Chinese cabbage) were collected from Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan. Polyphenolic rich extracts of these Brassicaceae species were prepared by Soxhlet extraction technique using ethanol. Phenolic acids, flavonoids and sugar contents of the investigated species were determined and quantified by RP-HPLC. Antioxidant activity was carried out by measurement of total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), reducing potential and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity. Anti-proliferative activity of all the extracts was determined by MTT assay on lung cancer cell line A549. Antibacterial activity was tested against the two bacterial strains, i.e., Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid and benzoic acid as the major phenolic acids, whereas catechine was the major flavonoid in most of the extracts. The TPC ranged from 9.7 to 32.8 mg/g of dry plant material, measured GAE and TFC ranged from 7.7 to 23.7 mg/g of dry plant material, measured as CE. Higher TPC and TFC were found in red cabbage extract followed by cauliflower, broccoli, white cabbage and Chinese cabbage. Red cabbage extract also showed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 2.3 µg/mL) followed by cauliflower, broccoli, white cabbage and Chinese cabbage. Maltodextrose was the major sugar followed by fructose in all species of Brassica. Promising anti-proliferative and antibacterial activities were also recorded by the selected Brassica extracts.

Enhancement of Bioactive Constituents in Fresh Cauliflower By-Products in Challenging Climate Conditions

In order to mitigate the detrimental impact that climate change is having on plants, the study of new practices that allow for the reduction of such effects has become imperative. In addition, the revaluation of the promotion of healthy plant by-products has also markedly increased in importance in recent years. In this work, the modifications in biomass and some antioxidant compounds of cauliflower by-products treated with putrescine under extreme temperatures in two different CO₂ scenarios (the control (400 ppm) and a high concentration of CO₂ (1000 ppm)) were studied. Additionally, the compositions of inner and outer leaves were also compared. According to results found in this work, cauliflower grown under elevated CO₂ and treated with putrescine (2.5 mM) prior to heat stress showed the highest biomass accumulation (20%) compared to the control. Moreover, in the outer leaves from cauliflower grown under elevated CO₂ and treated with putrescine prior to high temperature exposure, the highest biosynthesis of sugars (20%) was recorded. Although cauliflower by-products turned out to be rich in polyamines (208.6 nmoles g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW) and 124.3 nmoles g⁻¹ FW for outer and inner leaves, respectively) and phenolic compounds (1070.2 mg gallic acid equivalents ( (GAE) 100 g⁻¹ FW in outer leaves and 772.0 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ FW in inner leaves), it was the outer leaves that after applying the new strategy showed the greatest increase in polyamines (68%) and phenolic compounds (39%), obtaining here the highest increase in antioxidant activity (3%). Thus, they should no longer be regarded as mere by-products and should be used for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical purposes. The novel strategy presented in this work may allow us to take advantage of both the continued increase in CO₂ and heat waves that are becoming more frequent.

Impact of Hydrothermal Treatments on Nutritional Value and Mineral Bioaccessibility of Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)

Hydrothermal treatment of Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) induces both physical and chemical changes in nutrients and non-nutrients. It also affects the bioaccessibility of individual compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of hydrothermal treatment (boiling, steaming, and sous vide technique) on the concentration of the selected nutrients and non-nutrients in Brussels sprouts and in vitro bioaccessibility of the mineral components. It has been shown that, in terms of the leaching of nutrients and non-nutrients into the aqueous medium, traditional cooking in water involves the greatest percentage loss (the highest decrease in dry matter (11.8%), ash (13.3%), protein (10.4%), crude fat (43.3%), dietary fiber (9.5%), digestible carbohydrates (12.2%), and most of mineral components (7.6–39.8%)). In contrast, steam cooking and sous vide cooking of Brussels sprouts allow a higher level of preservation of the individual compounds. By using reduced process temperatures and vacuum packaging, sous vide cooking can be an alternative to traditional cooking to preserve the higher nutritional value of Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera (preservation of dry matter, ash, crude fat, and most of the mineral components at the level of the raw sample p ≤ 0.05).

Fate of Bioactive Compounds during Lactic Acid Fermentation of Fruits and Vegetables

Consumption of lactic acid fermented fruits and vegetables has been correlated with a series of health benefits. Some of them have been attributed to the probiotic potential of lactic acid microbiota, while others to its metabolic potential and the production of bioactive compounds. The factors that affect the latter have been in the epicenter of intensive research over the last decade. The production of bioactive peptides, vitamins (especially of the B-complex), gamma-aminobutyric acid, as well as phenolic and organosulfur compounds during lactic acid fermentation of fruits and vegetables has attracted specific attention. On the other hand, the production of biogenic amines has also been intensively studied due to the adverse health effects caused by their consumption. The data that are currently available indicate that the production of these compounds is a strain-dependent characteristic that may also be affected by the raw materials used as well as the fermentation conditions. The aim of the present review paper is to collect all data referring to the production of the aforementioned compounds and to present and discuss them in a concise and comprehensive way.

Green photosensitisers for the degradation of selected pesticides of high risk in most susceptible food: A safer approach

Pesticides are the leading defence against pests, but their unsafe use reciprocates the pesticide residues in highly susceptible food and is becoming a serious risk for human health. In this study, mint extract and riboflavin were tested as photosensitisers in combination with light irradiation of different frequencies, employed for various time intervals to improve the photo-degradation of deltamethrin (DM) and lambda cyhalothrin (λ-CHT) in cauliflower. Different source of light was studied, either in ultraviolet range (UV-C, 254 nm or UV-A, 320-380 nm) or sunlight simulator (> 380-800 nm). The degradation of the pesticides varied depending on the type of photosensitiser and light source. Photo-degradation of the DM and λ-CHT was enhanced by applying the mint extracts and riboflavin and a more significant degradation was achieved with UV-C than with either UV-A or sunlight, reaching a maximum decrement of the concentration by 67-76%. The light treatments did not significantly affect the in-vitro antioxidant activity of the natural antioxidants in cauliflower. A calculated dietary risk assessment revealed that obvious dietary health hazards of DM and λ-CHT pesticides when sprayed on cauliflower for pest control. The use of green chemical photosensitisers (mint extract and riboflavin) in combination with UV light irradiation represents a novel, sustainable, and safe approach to pesticide reduction in produce.

Variation in the Accumulation of Phytochemicals and Their Bioactive Properties among the Aerial Parts of Cauliflower

Vegetables from the Brassicaceae family are excellent sources of bioactive phytochemicals and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Variation of phytochemicals in the edible part of cauliflower is known. However, information about the distribution of bioactive and nutritive compounds as well as antioxidant activity among aerial organs of cauliflower is unavailable. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the distribution of glucosinolates (GLS), phenolics, flavonoids, chlorophylls, nutritive compounds and antioxidant capacity between the aerial parts of the common variety of cauliflower and to evaluate whether these changes contribute to the differences in the antioxidant capacity between the plant organs. Our study showed that all the aerial organs of cauliflower are a rich source of health-promoting bioactive compounds, including GLS, phenolics and flavonoids, exhibiting antioxidant capacity. The highest contents of phytochemicals and the highest antioxidant capacity were found in leaves. Cauliflower organs were also found to be rich in nutritive compounds, including minerals, proteins and amino acids. Our study showed that the non-edible organs, such as stems and leaves, being neglected parts of cauliflower, if not consumed as the main ingredient, can be used as additives for developing new, functional foodstuff.

Intentional and unintentional selection during plant domestication: herbivore damage, plant defensive traits and nutritional quality of fruit and seed crops

Greater susceptibility to herbivory can arise as an effect of crop domestication. One proposed explanation is that defenses decreased intentionally or unintentionally during the domestication process, but evidence for this remains elusive. An alternative but nonexclusive explanation is presumed selection for higher nutritional quality. We used a metaanalytical approach to examine susceptibility to herbivores in fruit and seed crops and their wild relatives. Our analyses provide novel insights into the mechanisms of increased susceptibility by evaluating whether it can be attributed to either a reduction in herbivore defensive traits, including direct/indirect and constitutive/inducible defenses, or an increase in the nutritional content of crops. The results confirm higher herbivory and lower levels of all types of defenses in crops compared to wild relatives, although indirect defenses were more affected than direct ones. Contrary to expectations, nutritional quality was lower in crops than in wild relatives, which may enhance biomass loss to herbivores if they increase consumption to meet nutritional requirements. Our findings represent an important advance in our understanding of how changes in defensive and nutritional traits following domestication could influence, in combination or individually, crop susceptibility to herbivore attacks.

Selenium Fortification Alters the Growth, Antioxidant Characteristics and Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Cultivars in Hydroponic Culture

Nowadays the importance of selenium for human health is widely known, but most of the plants are poor in terms of selenium storage and accumulation because of the low selenium mineralization potential of the soil. For this purpose, foliar application of different sodium selenate concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mg/L) was used to treat the cauliflower cultivars "Clapton" and "Graffiti". Higher yields and other related vegetative attributes were improved at 10 and 15 mg/L sodium selenate application. At a concentration of 10 mg/L sodium selenate, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were enhanced in both cultivars, but the "Graffiti" cultivar responded stronger than the "Clapton" cultivar. The glucosinolates were accumulated in response to selenium fortification and the highest amounts were found in the "Graffiti" cultivar at 10 mg/L. Selenium accumulated concentration-dependently and rose with higher fertilization levels. In general, foliar application of selenium at 10 mg/L led to an accumulation of secondary metabolites and also positively affected the growth and yield of florets.

Anything New under the Sun? An Update on Modulation of Bioactive Compounds by Different Wavelengths in Agricultural Plants

Plants continuously rely on light as an energy source and as the driver of many processes in their lifetimes. The ability to perceive different light radiations involves several photoreceptors, which in turn activate complex signalling cascades that ultimately lead to a rearrangement in plant metabolism as an adaptation strategy towards specific light conditions. This review, after a brief summary of the structure and mode of action of the different photoreceptors, introduces the main classes of secondary metabolites and specifically focuses on the influence played by the different wavelengths on the content of these compounds in agricultural plants, because of their recognised roles as nutraceuticals.

Optimization of an Extraction Process to Obtain a Food-Grade Sulforaphane-Rich Extract from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a powerful health-promoting compound found in broccoli in the form of its inactive precursor, glucoraphanin (GFN). SFN formation occurs through the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by myrosinase under specific chemical conditions. Its incorporation in food formulations has been hindered by the thermal instability of SFN and low concentration in Brassicaceae. Then, extracting SFN from broccoli at a temperature below 40 °C appears as an option to recover and stabilize SFN, aiming at delivering it as a nutraceutical. We studied an eco-friendly extraction process to obtain an SFN-rich extract from broccoli. The effect of the broccoli mass/solvent ratio, ethanol concentration in the extractant solution, and extraction time on the recovery of SFN, GFN, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity were studied through a Box–Behnken design. The regression models explained more than 70% of the variability in the responses, adequately representing the system. The experimental factors differently affected the bioactive compound recovery and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The extraction conditions that allowed the highest recovery of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were identified and experimentally validated. The results may provide the basis for the design of a process to produce a sulforaphane-rich food supplement or nutraceutical by using a GRAS extractant.

The Effect of Foliar Putrescine Application, Ammonium Exposure, and Heat Stress on Antioxidant Compounds in Cauliflower Waste

This work has been focused on the study of how we can affect the short heat stress on the bioactive compounds content. Some recent investigations have observed that management of nitrogen fertilization can alleviate short-term heat effects on plants. Additionally, the short-term heat stress can be also ameliorated by using putrescine, a polyamine, due to its crucial role in the adaptation of plants to heat stress Therefore, different NO₃⁻/NH₄⁺ ratios and a foliar putrescine treatment have been used in order to increase tolerance to thermal stress in order to take advantage of the more frequent and intense heat waves and make this crop more sustainable. So, other objective of this work is to make the cauliflower waste more attractive for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical preparations. Thus, the effect of a thermal stress combined with a 50:50 NO₃⁻/NH₄⁺ ratio in the nutrient solution, and the foliar application of 2.5 mM putrescine increased in the content of various sugars (inositol, glucose, and fructose), total phenolic compounds and polyamines, as well as in the antioxidant activity. The greatest accumulation of these compounds was observed in young leaves. Our results show from a physiological and agronomic point of view, that the foliar application of putrescine and the 50:50 NO₃⁻/NH₄⁺ treatment managed to alleviate the negative effects of the abiotic stress suffered at high temperature, yielding plants with higher antioxidant compounds content.

Insights for integrative medicinal potentials of Ethiopian Kale (Brassica carinata): Investigation of antibacterial, antioxidant potential and phytocompounds composition of its leaves

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Phytotherapy and food applications from Brassica genus

Plants of the genus Brassica occupy the top place among vegetables in the world. This genus, which contains a group of six related species of a global economic significance, three of which are diploid: Brassica nigra (L.) K. Koch, Brassica oleracea L., and Brassica rapa L. and three are amphidiploid species: Brassica carinata A. Braun, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., and Brassica napus L. These varieties are divided into oily, fodder, spice, and vegetable based on their morphological structure, chemical composition, and usefulness of plant organs. The present review provides information about habitat, phytochemical composition, and the bioactive potential of Brassica plants, mainly antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and clinical studies in human. Brassica vegetables are of great economic importance around the world. At present, Brassica plants are grown together with cereals and form the basis of global food supplies. They are distinguished by high nutritional properties from other vegetable plants, such as low fat and protein content and high value of vitamins, fibers along with minerals. In addition, they possess several phenolic compounds and have a unique type of compounds namely glucosinolates that differentiate these crops from other vegetables. These compounds are also responsible for numerous biological activities to the genus Brassica as described in this review.

The effects of broccoli and caraway extracts on serum oxidative markers, testicular structure and function, and sperm quality before and after sperm cryopreservation

Despite studies on the effects of medicinal plants on reproductive performance, the effect of extracts broccoli and caraway on serum and testicular oxidative biomarkers, testicular structure and function and sperm quality before and after cryopreservation has not been studied. Sixty-three male mice were divided into nine controlled and treated groups as follow: control, broccoli (200 mg/kg), broccoli (300 mg/kg), caraway (200 mg/kg), caraway (300 mg/kg), broccoli -caraway (200 mg/kg), broccoli (300 mg/kg)-caraway (200 mg/kg), broccoli (200 mg/kg)-caraway (300 mg/kg), broccoli-caraway (300 mg/kg). After 42 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and blood sample and testicular tissue were collected for biochemical and histological measurements. Sperm quality was also measured before and after cryopreservation. The results showed that the diameter and number of spermatogonium, primary spermatocytes, spermatids and sperm count were significantly increased by broccoli (300 mg/kg), while level of them were significantly decreased by caraway (300 mg/kg) compared to other groups (p < 0.01). Sperm viability and motility after thawing significantly improved by broccoli (300 mg/kg) compared to control. Testosterone levels significantly increased by broccoli (300 mg/kg) compared to control and caraway (300 mg/kg). The serum and testicular SOD and CAT activity significantly increased by broccoli (300 mg/kg) compared to other groups (p < 0.05). MDA and DNA fragmentation levels significantly increased by caraway (200 and 300 mg/kg) compared to others (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that broccoli extract in a dose-dependent manner than caraway extract could improve serum and testes oxidative biomarkers, testicular structure and function, and sperm quality before and after cryopreservation.

Rationalizing the therapeutic potential of apigenin against cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite the remarkable advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer during the past couple of decades, it remains the second largest cause of mortality in the world, killing approximately 9.6 million people annually. The major challenges in the treatment of the advanced stage of this disease are the development of chemoresistance, severe adverse effects of the drugs, and high treatment cost. Therefore, the development of drugs that are safe, efficacious, and cost-effective remains a 'Holy Grail' in cancer research. However, the research over the past four decades shed light on the cancer-preventive and therapeutic potential of natural products and their underlying mechanism of action. Apigenin is one such compound, which is known to be safe and has significant potential in the prevention and therapy of this disease.

AIM

To assess the literature available on the potential of apigenin and its analogs in modulating the key molecular targets leading to the prevention and treatment of different types of cancer.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature search has been carried out on PubMed for obtaining information related to the sources and analogs, chemistry and biosynthesis, physicochemical properties, biological activities, bioavailability and toxicity of apigenin.

KEY FINDINGS

The literature search resulted in many in vitro, in vivo and a few cohort studies that evidenced the effectiveness of apigenin and its analogs in modulating important molecular targets and signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK/ERK, Wnt/β-catenin, etc., which play a crucial role in the development and progression of cancer. In addition, apigenin was also shown to inhibit chemoresistance and radioresistance and make cancer cells sensitive to these agents. Reports have further revealed the safety of the compound and the adaptation of nanotechnological approaches for improving its bioavailability.

SIGNIFICANCE

Hence, the present review recapitulates the properties of apigenin and its pharmacological activities against different types of cancer, which warrant further investigation in clinical settings.

Merging Heat Stress Tolerance and Health-Promoting Properties: The Effects of Exogenous Arginine in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

In the last decades, cauliflower consumption has increased due to its observed beneficial effects on human health, especially on chronic diseases. Furthermore, the use of arginine has been shown to improve the heat stress tolerance of plants by increasing the polyamine content. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of the exogenous application of arginine on the physical and chemical quality parameters of cauliflower florets under heat stress. For this, we applied two concentrations of arginine (1 and 4 mM) to the leaves of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) plants grown in three different temperatures (ambient, elevated, and extreme). Our data show that potassium and phosphate, as well as iron were the most abundant macro- and micronutrients, respectively. The combination of high temperature and exogenous application of arginine increased the antioxidant activity, total content of phenolic compounds, polyamines, and proteins. The data presented herein indicate that the combination of an adequate heat stress and the appropriate foliar arginine treatment may be a useful strategy that could be used to increase the number of valuable plant compounds in our diet.

Human, Animal and Plant Health Benefits of Glucosinolates and Strategies for Enhanced Bioactivity: A Systematic Review

Glucosinolates (GSs) are common anionic plant secondary metabolites in the order Brassicales. Together with glucosinolate hydrolysis products (GSHPs), they have recently gained much attention due to their biological activities and mechanisms of action. We review herein the health benefits of GSs/GSHPs, approaches to improve the plant contents, their bioavailability and bioactivity. In this review, only literature published between 2010 and March 2020 was retrieved from various scientific databases. Findings indicate that these compounds (natural, pure, synthetic, and derivatives) play an important role in human/animal health (disease therapy and prevention), plant health (defense chemicals, biofumigants/biocides), and food industries (preservatives). Overall, much interest is focused on in vitro studies as anti-cancer and antimicrobial agents. GS/GSHP levels improvement in plants utilizes mostly biotic/abiotic stresses and short periods of phytohormone application. Their availability and bioactivity are directly proportional to their contents at the source, which is affected by methods of food preparation, processing, and extraction. This review concludes that, to a greater extent, there is a need to explore and improve GS-rich sources, which should be emphasized to obtain natural bioactive compounds/active ingredients that can be included among synthetic and commercial products for use in maintaining and promoting health. Furthermore, the development of advanced research on compounds pharmacokinetics, their molecular mode of action, genetics based on biosynthesis, their uses in promoting the health of living organisms is highlighted.

Chemometric approach based characterization and selection of mid-early cauliflower for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity

The present study was aimed to analyse bioactive compounds (total phenolics, ascorbic acid and sinigrin) and antioxidant activity in 14 mid-early cauliflower genotypes. Significant differences (pb 0.05) were observed among the genotypes for all bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Total phenolics content of curd were ranged from 20.36 to 48.93 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 100 g-1 fresh weight (FW) which showed 2.5 times variation. The ascorbic acid content was maximum in DC522 (88.53 mg 100 g-1 FW) followed by Pusa Sharad (65.64 mg 100 g-1 FW) while minimum in DC310 (39.62 65.64 mg 100 g-1 FW). Wide variation was observed for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power ranging from 9.04 to 20.83 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW and 13.11 to 26.31 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW, respectively. Sinigrin was found to be highest in DC306 (39.50 µmol 100 g-1 FW) for leaf and in DC326 (36.93 µmol 100 g-1 FW) for curd sample. The cauliflower genotypes were classified based on chemometric approaches namely principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained 50.62% and 23.28% of total variance, respectively. The AHC as revealed by heat map classified cauliflower genotypes into four main groups based on measured traits. The information is useful for developing varieties and/or hybrids rich in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

Main Health-Promoting Compounds Response to Long-Term Freezer Storage and Different Thawing Methods in Frozen Broccoli Florets

The effects of long-term freezer storage and different defrosting methods on the retention of glucosinolates, vitamin C, and total phenols in frozen broccoli florets were investigated in the present study. Frozen broccoli florets were stored in a freezer at -20 °C for 165 days or subjected to defrosting by three different house-hold thawing methods (water, air, and refrigerator defrosting). Results showed that all glucosinolates were well preserved, while vitamin C and total phenols were reduced by less than 12% and 19% of the control, respectively, during the storage. Besides, refrigerator and air defrosting were better than water defrosting in glucosinolates retention, and refrigerator defrosting was the best in vitamin C preservation. No difference was observed in reserving phenolic compounds among the three methods. In conclusion, long-term freezer storage is an excellent way to preserve broccoli florets, and refrigerator defrosting is the best way to maintain the nutritional compounds in frozen broccoli florets.

Effect of pretreatment with organic solvent on enzymatic digestibility of cauliflower wastes

The present study investigated the operational conditions for different pretreatment approaches and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of cauliflower wastes (stalk and leaf) for better release of fermentable sugars. The structural analysis of raw and pretreated lignocellulosic biomasses was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) analysis. Results demonstrated that the highest cellulose conversion rate and removal of most of the hemicellulose and lignin were obtained with organosolvent pretreatment. Using methanol in presence of sodium (Na) acetate was most effective in delignification of cauliflower wastes. In the present study, methanol (100% v/v) in presence of 0.1 M Na-acetate at 121 °C for 45 and 60 min for stalk and leaf, respectively, gave maximum reducing sugar yield. Response surface methodology was used to optimize different process parameters for enzymatic saccharification using microbial cellulase and xylanase. The optimum operation condition of enzymatic hydrolysis of organosolvent pretreated cauliflower wastes were substrate loading (2.5% w/v for both stalk and leaf), enzyme loading (15 and 10 U/g for stalk and leaf, respectively), pH (4.46 and 5.48 for stalk and leaf, respectively), at 60 °C and for 180 min.

Health-Promoting Properties of Fresh and Processed Purple Cauliflower

Plant-based foods should be fresh, safe, and natural, with nutritional value and processed in sustainable ways. Among all consumed vegetables, Brassica vegetables are considered to be the most important ones. As they are eaten in large quantities and frequently, they may constitute an important source of nutrients and bioactive compounds in a daily diet. This work is aimed at assessing the effect of technological processing (blanching and traditional cooking in water and in a convection steam oven) as well as the method of frozen storage (in PE-LD zipper bags and vacuum packing) on the content of selected components in purple cauliflower. The material was examined for the content of dry matter, vitamin C, total polyphenols, anthocyanins, thiocyanates, nitrates, and nitrites, as well as antioxidant activity. All technological processes caused significant changes in the contents of examined nutritive and non-nutritive compounds as well as in antioxidant activity or the level of selected chemical pollutions. A trend was also observed towards lower constituents’ losses as a result of convection steaming, compared to traditional cooking in water. Moreover, the reduction in the content of examined compounds was smaller in vacuum-packed and frozen-stored vegetables then in those stored in zipper PE-LD bags.

Fermentation-based biotransformation of glucosinolates, phenolics and sugars in retorted broccoli puree by lactic acid bacteria

This study investigated the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation on the chemical profile of autoclaved broccoli puree, using 7 broccoli-derived LAB isolates (named F1-F5, BF1 and BF2). The total concentrations of glucosinolates (glucoiberin, progoitrin and glucoraphanin) and 10 major phenolics significantly increased from trace level and 289 μg total phenolics/g dry weight (DW) respectively in autoclaved broccoli to 55 to ∼359 μg/g DW and 903 to ∼3105 μg/g DW respectively in LAB fermented broccoli puree. Differential impacts of LAB isolates on the chemical composition of autoclaved broccoli were observed, with the major differences being the significant increase in phloretic acid after fermentation by F1-F5 and an elevated glucoraphanin level in ferments by F1 and BF2. LAB fermentation is a promising way to increase the content of glucosinolates and polyphenolic compounds in broccoli, making the ferments attractive for use as functional ingredients or as a whole functional food.

INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS OF THE VEGETATIONAL PERIOD FOR THE FORMATION OF THE NUTRIENT VALUE OF CAULIFLOWER

The influence of weather conditions of the vegetation period on the formation of the food value of cauliflower was studied. Weather conditions of the vegetation period influenced the formation of the food value of cauliflower. More dry substances 8,4–15,5 % depending on a hybrid accumulated in a drying and hot 2017 year. The content of dry substances in heads of early ripen hybrids of cauliflower during 2015–2017 was within 6,1–10,9 % depending on a hybrid. In 2016 and 2017 there accumulated more of them. The more total content of sugars, saccharose formed in heads of cauliflower in 2015 and 2017. The content of ascorbic acid in early ripen hybrids was higher in 2015, which weather conditions in the period of ripening of heads were less drying comparing with other ones. It was established, that the main sign-indicator is the content of dry substances that directly correlated with weather conditions of the vegetation period. The content of dry substances in heads of early ripen hybrids has a strong reverse connection with an air humidity in the period of head formation: r=–0,8‑0,93, and also strong direct connections with a sum of precipitation and HTC of the vegetation period. The content of dry soluble substances has a strong reverse connection with an air humidity: r=–0,7–0,97. There was elaborated a regression equation that helps to prognosticate the total content of sugars, saccharose, reducing sugars in cauliflower heads depending on dry soluble substances. It was established, that the duration of the vegetation period in hybrids, studied in average for three years, was not equal and varied from 72 days in a hybrid of Livingston F1 (control) to 83 days in hybrid Kul F1.

Effect of a cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae var. Botrytis) leaf powder-enriched diet on performance, carcass and meat characteristics of growing rabbit

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a cauliflower leaf powder (CLP)-enriched diet on the performance, quality and antioxidative potential of rabbit meat. No significant differences were found for live performance parameters between rabbits fed with standard (SD) and CLP diet. Dietary supplementation influenced the meat traits of rabbits: CLP meat showed significantly lower drip loss after 48 h, cooking loss, and a significantly higher lightness (L*) and redness (a*) values, vitamin A and vitamin E content, and oxidative stability, compared to SD meat. Moreover, the CLP supplementation caused a significant decrease in SFA and increase in PUFA percentage of rabbit intramuscular fat. The statistical analysis also showed a significant effect of dietary fortification on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of rabbit meat which resulted higher in meat of CLP group. This study highlighted that dietary fortification with CLP is a valid strategy to produce rabbit meat with better technological and functional quality.

Comparative Study of Predominant Phytochemical Compounds and Proapoptotic Potential of Broccoli Sprouts and Florets

The study compares lyophilized broccoli sprouts and florets in terms of their chemical composition, cytotoxic and proapoptotic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, colorectal cancer SW480, and skin fibroblast BJ cells. Sinapic and isochlorogenic acids were predominant phenolics in the sprouts and florets, respectively. The amount of sulforaphane in the sprouts was significantly higher vs. florets. Oleic and linoleic acids dominated in the sprouts, while caproic, stearic and oleic acids in the florets. Broccoli sprouts were selectively cytotoxic on HepG2 and SW480 cells, with proapoptotic effect for the latter, while the florets were less selective, but more active, with profound proapoptotic effect for HepG2 cells (77.4%). Thus, lyophilized broccoli sprouts may be effectively used in dietary chemoprevention.

Effects of thermal and non-thermal processing of cruciferous vegetables on glucosinolates and its derived forms

Brassica vegetables, which include broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts, are known for their high glucosinolate content. Glucosinolates and their derived forms namely isothiocyanates are of special interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries due to their antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and anticarcinogenic properties. These compounds are water soluble and heat-sensitive and have been proved to be heavily lost during thermal processing. In addition, previous studies suggested that novel non-thermal technologies such as high pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, or ultraviolet irradiation can affect the glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables. The objective of this paper was to review current knowledge about the effects of both thermal and non-thermal processing technologies on the content of glucosinolates and their derived forms in brassica vegetables. This paper also highlights the importance of the incorporation of brassica vegetables into our diet for their health-promoting properties beyond their anticarcinogenic activities.

Extraction, profiling and bioactivity analysis of volatile glucosinolates present in oil extract of Brassica juncea var. raya

Cruciferous vegetables are rich source of glucosinolates (GSLs), which in presence of myrosinase enzyme cause hydrolytic cleavage and result in different hydrolytic products like isothiocyanates, thiocyanates, nitriles and epinitriles. The GSLs hydrolytic products are volatile compounds, which are known to exhibit bioactivities like antioxidant, fungicidal, bioherbicidal and anticancer. Among the Brassicaceae family, Brassica juncea is very well known for high content of GSLs. In the present study, the isolation of volatile oil of B. juncea var. raya was done by hydrodistillation method using clevenger apparatus and further there extraction was done by solvents ethyl acetate and dichloromethane. The volatile compounds present in the extract were analysed by gas chromatography/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/GC-MS). Fatty acid esters, sulphur and/or nitrogen compounds, carbonyl compounds and some other volatile compounds were also identified. Besides the analytical studies, the extracts were analysed for their bioactivities including radical scavenging activity by using DNA nicking assay and cytotoxic effect using different human cancer cell lines viz. breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), prostate (PC-3), lung (A-549), cervix (HeLa) and colon (HCT116) by MTT assay. The oil extracts were efficiently able to reduce the increase of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Among all cell lines, the most effective anticancer activity was observed in case of breast (MCF-7) cancer cell line. So, MCF-7 cells were used for further mechanistic studies for analysing the mechanism of anticancer activity. Confocal microscopy was done for analysing morphological changes in the cells and the images confirmed the features typical of apoptosis. For evaluating the mode of cell death, spectrofluorometric determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was done. The volatile oil extract treated MCF-7 cells had a significant increase in number of ROS, also there was a rise in percentage of cells with increased disruption of MMP. So, the present study marks necessary indication that B. juncea (raya) oil extracts significantly induces apoptosis in all the above mentioned cancer cells lines through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway and thus play a remarkable role in death of cancer cells.

Grasslands: A Source of Secondary Metabolites for Livestock Health

The need for environmentally friendly practices in animal husbandry, in conjunction with the reduction of the use of synthetic chemicals, leads us to reconsider our agricultural production systems. In that context, grassland secondary metabolites (GSMs) could offer an alternative way to support to livestock health. In fact, grasslands, especially those with high dicotyledonous plant species, present a large, pharmacologically active reservoir of secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and quinones). These molecules have activities that could improve or deteriorate health and production. This Review presents the main families of GSMs and uses examples to describe their known impact on animal health in husbandry. Techniques involved for their study are also described. A particular focus is put on anti-oxidant activities of GSMs. In fact, numerous husbandry pathologies, such as inflammation, are linked to oxidative stress and can be managed by a diet rich in anti-oxidants. The different approaches and techniques used to evaluate grassland quality for livestock health highlight the lack of efficient and reliable technics to study the activities of this complex phytococktail. Better knowledge and management of this animal health resource constitute a new multidisciplinary research field and a challenge to maintain and valorize grasslands.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cauliflower leaf powder-enriched diet against LPS induced toxicity in rabbits

Brassicaphytochemicals exert a broad spectrum of health-promoting activities.