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Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect
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Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 17624

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Liliana Vargas-Murga

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Agricultural Engineering and Agrifood Technology, Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Interests: food chemistry; food toxicology; functional foods; botanicals, phytochemicals; bioactive compounds; botanical safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Haiquan Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Food and Nutrition Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: nutrition economics and policy; cost-effectiveness; agri-food standards; dietary and health; health effects of food
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-derived food plays a very important role in human health. Chronic disease is a major social challenge of the twenty-first century, and the consumption of plant-derived food was taken as a way to reduce the risk of chronic disease. Evidence strongly suggests that consuming more fruits and vegetables could contribute to the prevention of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity. As the main source of daily supplied food, plant-derived food could provide both economical energy and carbohydrate, protein, lipid, vitamins, mineral elements, dietary fiber, and bioactive compounds. Grains, vegetables, and fruits could provide health benefits that cannot be replaced by other foods. For sustainability of food and environmental resource, government policies should be directed more toward supporting the plant food that should form a greater part of our diet, improving the plant-derived food taste and attractiveness to consumers so that they can compete more effectively with the junk processed foods that are underpinning the global incidence of obesity and chronic diseases. We should be directed toward improving the quality of plant-derived foods by building on our improved understanding of the complex relationships between plant-derived food and our health. This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the function effect, cost-effectiveness, dietary intake, and development of plant-derived foods, and their role in the health effect.

Dr. Liliana Vargas-Murga
Dr. Haiquan Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant-based food
  • plant-derived food
  • food function
  • plant-derived food intake
  • human health

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 9527 KiB  
Article
Studies on Cistanches Herba: A Bibliometric Analysis
by Longjiang Wu, Tian Xiang, Chen Chen, Murtala Bindawa Isah and Xiaoying Zhang
Plants 2023, 12(5), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051098 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3874
Abstract
As a famous tonic herb, Cistanches Herba is known for its broad medicinal functions, especially its hormone balancing, anti-aging, anti-dementia, anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of studies on Cistanche and to identify research [...] Read more.
As a famous tonic herb, Cistanches Herba is known for its broad medicinal functions, especially its hormone balancing, anti-aging, anti-dementia, anti-tumor, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of studies on Cistanche and to identify research hotspots and frontier topics on the genus. Based on the metrological analysis software CiteSpace, 443 Cistanche related papers were quantitatively reviewed. The results indicate that 330 institutions from 46 countries have publications in this field. China was the leading country in terms of research importance and number of publication (335 articles). In the past decades, studies on Cistanche have mainly focused on its rich active substances and pharmacological effects. Although the research trend shows that Cistanche has grown from an endangered species to an important industrial plant, its breeding and cultivation continue to be important areas for research. In the future, the application of Cistanche species as functional foods may be a new research trend. In addition, active collaborations among researchers, institutions, and countries are expected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect)
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15 pages, 3776 KiB  
Article
Determination of the Total Phenolics Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Parts of Plants from the Greek Island of Crete
by Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis, Theodoros Chatzimitakos, Vassilis Athanasiadis, Sofia Mitakou, Nektarios Aligiannis, Eleni Bozinou, Olga Gortzi, Leandros A. Skaltsounis and Stavros I. Lalas
Plants 2023, 12(5), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051092 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5164
Abstract
Oxidative damages are responsible for many adverse health effects and food deterioration. The use of antioxidant substances is well renowned, and as such, much emphasis is placed on their use. Since synthetic antioxidants exhibit potential adverse effects, plant-derived antioxidants are a preferable solution. [...] Read more.
Oxidative damages are responsible for many adverse health effects and food deterioration. The use of antioxidant substances is well renowned, and as such, much emphasis is placed on their use. Since synthetic antioxidants exhibit potential adverse effects, plant-derived antioxidants are a preferable solution. Despite the myriads of plants that exist and the fact that numerous studies have been carried out so far, there are many species that have not been examined so far. Many plants under research exist in Greece. Trying to fill this research gap, the total phenolics content and antioxidant activity of seventy methanolic extracts from parts of Greek plants were evaluated. The total phenolics content was measured by the Folin–Ciocalteau assay. Their antioxidant capacity was calculated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging test, the Rancimat method based on conductometric measurements, and the thermoanalytical method DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry). The tested samples were obtained from several parts of fifty-seven Greek plant species belonging to twenty-three different families. Both a remarkably high phenolic content (with gallic acid equivalents varying between 311.6 and 735.5 mg/g of extract) and radical scavenging activity (IC50 values ranged from 7.2 to 39.0 μg/mL) were found in the extract of the aerial parts of Cistus species (C. creticus subsp. creticus, C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus, C. monspeliensis, C. parviflorus and C. salviifolius), Cytinus taxa (C. hypocistis subsp. hypocistis, C. hypocistis subsp. orientalis and C. ruber), and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Furthermore, the sample of Cytinus ruber showed the highest protection factor (PF = 1.276) regarding the Rancimat method, which was similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (PF = 1.320). The results indicated that these plants are rich in antioxidant compounds, potentiating their use either as food additives to enhance the antioxidant properties of food products, or protect them from oxidation, or as sources for the preparation of food supplements with antioxidant properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect)
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22 pages, 4559 KiB  
Article
Protein Mass Fingerprinting and Antioxidant Power of Hemp Seeds in Relation to Plant Cultivar and Environment
by Chiara Cattaneo, Annalisa Givonetti and Maria Cavaletto
Plants 2023, 12(4), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040782 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2145
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (hemp) seeds are considered a functional food for their favorable contents of essential fatty acids, proteins and antioxidants. Beyond phenolics and carotenoids, the bioactivity of proteins has recently been investigated. However, plant genotype and environmental conditions can affect quantity and quality [...] Read more.
Cannabis sativa (hemp) seeds are considered a functional food for their favorable contents of essential fatty acids, proteins and antioxidants. Beyond phenolics and carotenoids, the bioactivity of proteins has recently been investigated. However, plant genotype and environmental conditions can affect quantity and quality of macronutrients and phytochemicals in seeds, influencing their nutraceutical properties. In this study, the effects of plant variety and seed origin on the protein profile and antioxidant activity of hemp seeds were evaluated. Seeds from two cultivars, Secuieni Jubileu and Finola, were harvested from a mountain field located in Italy and compared with reference seeds used for sowing. Albumin and globulin extracts were obtained using the Osborne method and their antioxidant power was assayed (DPPH and ABTS methods). A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry method was developed for protein fingerprinting analysis. Albumins from seeds of the mountain site showed higher radical scavenging activity and compounds of lower molecular weight than reference seeds, suggesting a role of proteins in the observed bioactivity. The MALDI-TOF method discriminated samples according to origin and variety, highlighting changes in the protein profile and identifying signals which could be used as markers of hemp cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect)
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16 pages, 1360 KiB  
Article
Customized Technological Designs to Improve the Traditional Use of Rosa canina Fruits in Foods and Ingredients
by Adina Andreea Teodorescu, Ștefania Adelina Milea, Bogdan Păcularu-Burada, Oana Viorela Nistor, Doina Georgeta Andronoiu, Gabriela Râpeanu and Nicoleta Stănciuc
Plants 2023, 12(4), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040754 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1692
Abstract
The rosehip fruits from Romanian spontaneous flora were valorized in three different customized variants, including jellified products, juices, and a nutraceutical. Prior to the technological design, the rosehip samples were characterized for individual polyphenolic content. The samples (non)-enzymatically treated showed epicatechin as the [...] Read more.
The rosehip fruits from Romanian spontaneous flora were valorized in three different customized variants, including jellified products, juices, and a nutraceutical. Prior to the technological design, the rosehip samples were characterized for individual polyphenolic content. The samples (non)-enzymatically treated showed epicatechin as the major compound, whereas the enzymatic treatment enhanced the extraction of quercetin (40.23 ± 0.48 mg/100 g DW extract), gallic acid (9.74 ± 0.24 mg/100 g DW extract), and kaempferol. Different ratios and types of sugars were added to obtain jellified products, leading to a significantly different bioactive profile. The sugar-free and steviol samples showed the highest content in carotenoids (89.36 ± 0.06 mg/g dry weight (DW) and 39.22 ± 1.16 mg/g DW, respectively), leading to the highest antioxidant activity (8.19 ± 0.80 mMol Trolox/g DW and 20.16 ± 0.31 mMol Trolox/g DW, respectively). The gelling capacity increased with the increase in sugar content. The enzymatically treated rosehip fruit pulp was mixed in various ratios with apple juice, followed by pasteurization. The polyphenolic content was approximately two times higher in the blended juices (20.75 ± 1.40 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 mL). The overall impression highlighted the preferences of panelists for sugar-free products, whereas adding apple juice significantly influenced their preferences. The fresh pulp was enhanced with pectin, followed by inoculation with Lactobacillus acidophilus, and freeze-dried showed satisfactory cell viability (approximately 7 log CFU/g DW), whereas an antidiabetic, anti-tyrosinase and anti-obesity potential of the powder was suggested. Our results provide enough evidence for customized processing of rosehip fruits in foods and nutraceuticals as a response to consumers’ choices, highlighting the bioactive compounds and nutrient contents, whereas selected in vitro health-related evidence was suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect)
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16 pages, 18178 KiB  
Article
Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level
by József Prokisch, Hassan El-Ramady, Lajos Daróczi, Éva Nagy, Khandsuren Badgar, Attila Kiss, Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh, Ibolya Gilányi and Csaba Oláh
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111391 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3535
Abstract
The human blood sugar level is important and should be controlled to avoid any damage to nerves and blood vessels which could lead to heart disease and many other problems. Several market-available treatments for diabetes could be used, such as insulin therapy, synthetic [...] Read more.
The human blood sugar level is important and should be controlled to avoid any damage to nerves and blood vessels which could lead to heart disease and many other problems. Several market-available treatments for diabetes could be used, such as insulin therapy, synthetic drugs, herbal drugs, and transdermal patches, to help control blood sugar. In a double-blind human study, four kinds of honey from bees fed on acacia, sea buckthorn, chlorella alga, and green walnut extracts were used in fortifying yogurt for controlling human blood sugar. The impact of a previously fortified honey was investigated on blood levels and other parameters of healthy individuals in a human study with 60 participants. The participants received 150 mL of yogurt mixed with 30 g of honey every morning for 21 days. Before and after the study period, the basic blood parameters were tested, and the participants filled out standardized self-report questionnaires. Acacia honey was the traditional honey used as a control; the special honey products were produced by the patented technology. The consumption of green walnut honey had a significant effect on the morning blood sugar level, which decreased for every participant in the group (15 people). The average blood sugar level at the beginning in the walnut group was 4.81 mmol L−1, whereas the value after 21 days was 3.73 mmol L−1. The total decrease level of the individuals was about 22.45% (1.08 mmol L−1). Concerning the sea buckthorn and chlorella alga-based honey product groups, there was no significant change in the blood sugar level, which were recorded at 4.91 and 5.28 mmol L−1 before treatment and 5.28 and 5.07 mmol L−1 after, respectively. In the case of the acacia honey group, there was a slight significant decrease as well, it was 4.77 mmol L−1 at the beginning and 4.27 mmol L−1 at the end with a total decrease rate of 10.48%. It could thus be concluded that the active ingredients of green walnut can significantly decrease the blood sugar level in humans. This study, as a first report, is not only a new innovative process to add herbs or healthy active ingredients to honey but also shows how these beneficial ingredients aid the honey in controlling the human blood sugar level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Food and Health Effect)
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