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15 pages, 1406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactive Compounds and Total Sugar Contents of Different Open-Pollinated Beetroot Genotypes Grown Organically

by Khadijeh Yasaminshirazi, Jens Hartung, Michael Fleck and Simone Graeff-Hoenninger

Molecules 2020, 25(21), 4884; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25214884 - 22 Oct 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3251

Abstract

The growing interest of consumers in healthy organic products has increased the attention to the organic production of beetroot. In this regard, six field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in three different locations under the specific conditions of organic agriculture, and [...] Read more.

The growing interest of consumers in healthy organic products has increased the attention to the organic production of beetroot. In this regard, six field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in three different locations under the specific conditions of organic agriculture, and fifteen beetroot genotypes, including one F1 hybrid as a commercial control and one breeding line, were compared regarding the content of the total dry matter, total soluble sugar, nitrate, betalain, and total phenolic compounds in order to investigate the genetic potential of new and existing open-pollinated genotypes of beetroot regarding the content of their bioactive compounds. The results of this study indicated a significant impact of genotype (p < 0.05) on all measured compounds. Furthermore, results revealed a significant influence of the interactions of location × year (p < 0.05) on the beetroot composition, and, thus, the role of environmental conditions for the formation of tested compounds. The total dry matter content (TDMC) of beetroots varied between 14.12% and 17.50%. The genotype ‘Nochowski’, which possessed the highest total soluble sugar content with 14.67 °Bx (Brix), was among the genotypes with the lowest nitrate content. On the contrary, the cylindrical-shaped genotype ‘Carillon RZ’ (Rijk Zwaan), indicated the lowest sugar content and the highest nitrate concentration. The amount of total phenolic compounds ranged between 352.46 ± 28.24 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ DW (milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g of dry weight) and 489.06 ± 28.24 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ DW for the red-colored genotypes which is correlated with the high antioxidant capacity of the investigated genotypes. Due to the specifics of the required content of bioactive compounds for various products, the selection of suitable genotypes should be aligned with the intended final utilization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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19 pages, 533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sprouts vs. Microgreens as Novel Functional Foods: Variation of Nutritional and Phytochemical Profiles and Their In vitro Bioactive Properties

by Aneta Wojdyło, Paulina Nowicka, Karolina Tkacz and Igor Piotr Turkiewicz

Molecules 2020, 25(20), 4648; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204648 - 12 Oct 2020

Cited by 87 | Viewed by 10387

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze potential health-promoting and nutritional components (polyphenols, L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, chlorophylls, amino acids, organic acid, sugars, ash and pectins) of selected sprouts (radish, lentil, black medick, broccoli, sunflower, leek, beetroot, mung beans) and microgreens (kale, radish, [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was to analyze potential health-promoting and nutritional components (polyphenols, L-ascorbic acid, carotenoids, chlorophylls, amino acids, organic acid, sugars, ash and pectins) of selected sprouts (radish, lentil, black medick, broccoli, sunflower, leek, beetroot, mung beans) and microgreens (kale, radish, beetroot, green peas, amaranth). Moreover, antioxidant capacity (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)), in vitro anti-diabetic potential (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and anti-obesity (pancreatic lipase) and anti-cholinergic (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) activity were evaluated. The results of this study show that sprouts are effective in antioxidant capacity as a result of a high content of polyphenols and L-ascorbic acid. Additionally, sprouts are better sources of amino acids, pectins and sugars than microgreens. Microgreens were characterized by high content of carotenoids and chlorophylls, and organic acid, without any sugars, exhibiting higher anti-diabetic and anti-cholinergic activity than sprouts. Some selected sprouts (broccoli, radish, lentil) and microgreens (radish, amaranths, kale) should be used daily as superfoods or functional food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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17 pages, 2916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

α-Linolenic Acid-Enriched Cold-Pressed Perilla Oil Suppress High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis through Amelioration of the ER Stress-Mediated Autophagy

by Su Ji Bae, Ji Eun Kim, Hyeon Jun Choi, Yun Ju Choi, Su Jin Lee, Jeong Eun Gong, Sungbaek Seo, Seung Yun Yang, Beum-Soo An, Hee Seob Lee, Dong Seob Kim, Chung Yeoul Lee and Dae Youn Hwang

Molecules 2020, 25(11), 2662; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112662 - 8 Jun 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4453

Abstract

Perilla oil has been considered to have excellent potential for treating various diseases due to its contents of beneficial fatty acids, such as α-linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. The therapeutic effects and molecular mechanism of an α-linolenic acid-enriched cold-pressed perilla oil [...] Read more.

Perilla oil has been considered to have excellent potential for treating various diseases due to its contents of beneficial fatty acids, such as α-linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. The therapeutic effects and molecular mechanism of an α-linolenic acid-enriched cold-pressed perilla oil (LEP) on hepatic steatosis of an obesity model were investigated by analyzing alterations in fat accumulation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated autophagy, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity C57BL/6N mice treated with LEP for 16 weeks. Although no significant alterations were detected in body weight and most organ weights, the liver weight and accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver section were significantly lower in HFD + LEP treated group as compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Reduced mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis and lipogenesis regulating factors, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)_γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2) were observed after LEP treatment for 16 weeks, while the levels of lipolysis were remarkably increased in the same group. Moreover, the LEP-treated groups showed suppression of ER stress-regulating factors, such as the C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1)α, and Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) during anti-hepatic steatosis effects. The expression level of the microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) protein and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway for the autophagy response showed a significant decrease in the HFD+LEP-treated group. Furthermore, ER stress-mediated autophagy was accompanied with enhanced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), JNK, and p38 protein in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that treatment with LEP inhibits hepatic steatosis in the HFD-induced obese model through regulation of adipogenesis and lipolysis. We believe our results are the first to show that the anti-hepatic steatosis activity of α-linolenic acid from cold-pressed perilla oil might be tightly correlated with the amelioration of ER stress-mediated autophagy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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12 pages, 430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Value-Added Lager Beer Enriched with Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Peel Extract

by Georgiana Horincar, Elena Enachi, Carmen Bolea, Gabriela Râpeanu and Iuliana Aprodu

Molecules 2020, 25(3), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030731 - 7 Feb 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5210

Abstract

Manufacturing beer with a high biological value requires identifying new methods for increasing the health-enhancing compounds level. The aim of this study was to increase the biological value of beer by adding antioxidant-rich eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) peel extract (EPE). The total [...] Read more.

Manufacturing beer with a high biological value requires identifying new methods for increasing the health-enhancing compounds level. The aim of this study was to increase the biological value of beer by adding antioxidant-rich eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) peel extract (EPE). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total monomeric anthocyanin content (TMA) were determined. Moreover, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by different radical scavenging assays. The addition of different levels of EPE resulted in a significant increase of TPC and TFC of beer samples from 0.426 to 0.631 mg GAE/mL, and from 0.065 to 0.171 mg CE/mL, respectively. The EPE-supplemented beer samples developed a reddish color because of the presence of anthocyanin pigments. The TMA content of beer varied from 0.011 to 0.083 mg D3G/mL with the level of added EPE. The HPLC analysis indicated that the anthocyanins prevailing in the eggplant peels were delphinidin-3-rutinoside, delphininidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-rutinoside-5-glucoside. The radical scavenging assays indicated a linear increase of the antioxidant activity following EPE addition, without altering the physicochemical parameters of the beer. These results are promising for using the EPE as a functional ingredient for beer production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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19 pages, 1914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supercritical CO₂ Extraction of Extracted Oil from Pistacia lentiscus L.: Mathematical Modeling, Economic Evaluation and Scale-Up

by Abdelkarim Aydi, André Wüst Zibetti, Abdulaal Z. Al-Khazaal, Aboulbaba ELADEB, Manef ADBERRABA and Danielle BARTH

Molecules 2020, 25(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010199 - 3 Jan 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4469

Abstract

In this study, the extracted oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. the Tunis region was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction containing different major components in the oil such as α-pinene (32%) and terpinene-4-ol (13%). The investigation of the effect of [...] Read more.

In this study, the extracted oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. the Tunis region was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction containing different major components in the oil such as α-pinene (32%) and terpinene-4-ol (13%). The investigation of the effect of different variables on the extraction yield with 5% level of confidence interval showed that the CO₂ pressure was the main significant variable to influence the oil yield. In order to better understand the phenomena, three parameters were considered to adjust all parameters of broken and intact cell (BIC) model: grinding efficiency (G), the internal mass transfer parameter (

k_{S} a_{0}

), and the external mass transfer parameter (

k_{f} a_{0}

), which were estimated by experimental extraction curves to calculate the diffusion coefficient. From an economic point of view, we found out that the high cost of production of the extracted oil was due to the low mass of extracted oil obtained from this type of plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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15 pages, 3837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation Study of Honey Regarding their Physicochemical Properties and Sugars and Cyclitols Content

by Ileana Andreea Ratiu, Hossam Al-Suod, Małgorzata Bukowska, Magdalena Ligor and Bogusław Buszewski

Molecules 2020, 25(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010034 - 20 Dec 2019

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 5623

Abstract

Honey is a natural sweetener, with an osmotic effect on microorganisms due to the increased sugar content and low amount of water. Cyclitols are minor constituents of honey. They play a defensive role in plants against unfavorable environmental conditions. Honey’s physicochemical properties can [...] Read more.

Honey is a natural sweetener, with an osmotic effect on microorganisms due to the increased sugar content and low amount of water. Cyclitols are minor constituents of honey. They play a defensive role in plants against unfavorable environmental conditions. Honey’s physicochemical properties can vary, resulting in a wide range of colors, flavors, scents, antioxidant activity, dissimilar values of pH, acidity, electrical conductivity, etc. Some literature regarding correlation between honey types is already available, but a comprehensive study displaying an ample evaluation of multifarious aspects is still needed. This study focuses on the correlation between 18 honey types, originating from 10 countries, collected during four years, summarizing a total of 38 samples. A total of 6 physicochemical properties and 18 target components (sugars and cyclitols) were considered as variables. A correlation analysis is presented between the investigated parameters and between honey types, together with the statistical analysis which allowed for observation of the clusters’ distribution according with the investigated variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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20 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Fingerprinting and In Vitro Bioassays of the Ethnomedicinal Fern Tectaria coadunata (J. Smith) C. Christensen from Central Nepal

by Shyam Sharan Shrestha, Stefania Sut, Serena Barbon Di Marco, Gokhan Zengin, Valentina Gandin, Michele De Franco, Deepak Raj Pant, Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally, Stefano Dall’Acqua and Sangeeta Rajbhandary

Molecules 2019, 24(24), 4457; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24244457 - 5 Dec 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3498

Abstract

Tectaria coadunata, an ethnomedicinal fern used in Nepal to treat a large number of diseases, has been poorly studied with regard to its phytochemical composition and possible bioactivity. This study was performed with the aim of supporting traditional medicine as a new [...] Read more.

Tectaria coadunata, an ethnomedicinal fern used in Nepal to treat a large number of diseases, has been poorly studied with regard to its phytochemical composition and possible bioactivity. This study was performed with the aim of supporting traditional medicine as a new source of bioactive constituents. Phytochemical compositions of methanol extracts were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography–diode array detector–mass spectrophotometry (LC-DAD-MS), and liquid chromatography–fluorescence–mass spectrometry. Quali-quantitative data revealed large amount of procyanidins, mainly of the A-type, as well as eriodictyol-7-O-glucuronide and luteolin-7-O-glucoronide as main constituents. The antioxidant, cytotoxic, and inhibitory activity of five enzymes that are implicated in human diseases was evaluated for the extract and fractions. High free-radical scavenging activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays and inhibitory activities against cholinesterases and tyrosinase were observed. Furthermore, a moderate cytotoxic effect was observed on the 2008 and BxPC3 cell lines. Overall results showed potential usefulness of this fern as a source of phytochemicals for pharmaceutical uses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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Review

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33 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessReview

Innovative Approaches for Recovery of Phytoconstituents from Medicinal/Aromatic Plants and Biotechnological Production

by Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Irina Fierascu, Alina Ortan, Milen I. Georgiev and Elwira Sieniawska

Molecules 2020, 25(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25020309 - 12 Jan 2020

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 8476

Abstract

Continuously growing demand for plant derived therapeutic molecules obtained in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner favors biotechnological production and development of innovative extraction techniques to obtain phytoconstituents. What is more, improving and optimization of alternative techniques for the isolation of high value natural [...] Read more.

Continuously growing demand for plant derived therapeutic molecules obtained in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner favors biotechnological production and development of innovative extraction techniques to obtain phytoconstituents. What is more, improving and optimization of alternative techniques for the isolation of high value natural compounds are issues having both social and economic importance. In this critical review, the aspects regarding plant biotechnology and green downstream processing, leading to the production and extraction of increased levels of fine chemicals from both plant cell, tissue, and organ culture or fresh plant materials and the remaining by-products, are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Vegetable Sources)

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