Effects of supplemental LED light quality and reduced growth temperature on swede (Brassica napus L. ssp. rapifera Metzg.) root vegetable development and contents of glucosinolates and sugars

BACKGROUND

Low growth temperatures and the special light qualities of midnight sun in northern Scandinavia, have both been shown to improve eating quality of swede root bulbs. To study the combined effect of these factors on root development and sensory-related compounds, plants were grown in phytotron under different 24 h supplemental light-emitting diode (LED) light colours, at constant 15 °C, or reduced end-of-season temperature at 9 °C.

RESULTS

Far-red LED (740 nm) light induced longer leaves and produced more roundly shaped bulbs, than the other light quality treatments. At constant 15 °C, supplemental light of far-red LED also produced a stronger purple crown skin colour than the other LED treatments. This difference between light quality treatments disappeared at 9 °C, as all bulb crowns developed a purple colour. There were no significant effects of LED-supplements on sugar concentrations, while the reduced temperature on average did increase concentrations of d-fructose and d-glucose. Total glucosinolate concentrations were not different among treatments, although the most abundant glucosinolate, progoitrin, on average was present in highest concentration under LEDs containing far-red light, and in lower concentration at 9 °C compared to 15 °C.

CONCLUSION

The light quality of 24 h photoperiods in combination with temperature appears primarily important for growth and morphological traits in swede root bulbs. Influence of light quality and low temperature on appearance and sensory-related compounds may be utilized in marketing of root vegetables with special quality related to growth conditions of high latitude origin. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fine mapping identifies NAD-ME1 as a candidate underlying a major locus controlling temporal variation in primary and specialized metabolism in Arabidopsis

Plant metabolism is modulated by a complex interplay between internal signals and external cues. A major goal of all quantitative metabolomic studies is to clone the underlying genes to understand the mechanistic basis of this variation. Using fine-scale genetic mapping, in this work we report the identification and initial characterization of NAD-DEPENDENT MALIC ENZYME 1 (NAD-ME1) as the candidate gene underlying the pleiotropic network Met.II.15 quantitative trait locus controlling variation in plant metabolism and circadian clock outputs in the Bay × Sha Arabidopsis population. Transcript abundance and promoter analysis in NAD-ME1^Bay-0 and NAD-ME1^Sha alleles confirmed allele-specific expression that appears to be due a polymorphism disrupting a putative circadian cis-element binding site. Analysis of transfer DNA insertion lines and heterogeneous inbred families showed that transcript variation of the NAD-ME1 gene led to temporal shifts of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, glucosinolate (GSL) accumulation, and altered regulation of several GSL biosynthesis pathway genes. Untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed complex regulatory networks of NAD-ME1 dependent upon the daytime. The mutant led to shifts in plant primary metabolites, cell wall components, isoprenoids, fatty acids, and plant immunity phytochemicals, among others. Our findings suggest that NAD-ME1 may act as a key gene to coordinate plant primary and secondary metabolism in a time-dependent manner.

Comparison between the effects of feeding copper sulphate-treated and untreated rapeseed cake containing high glucosinolates on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestion and nitrogen metabolism in steers

Two trials were carried out to study the effects of copper sulphate (CuSO₄ ) on detoxifying glucosinolates (GLS) in rapeseed cake (RSC) and compare the effects of feeding CuSO₄ -treated and untreated RSC on nutrient digestion and nitrogen (N) metabolism in steers. In Trial 1, different concentrations of CuSO₄ solution (1.6 vs. 3.2 g CuSO₄ ·5H₂ O L^-1 ), soaking temperatures (25 vs. 60°C) and drying methods (air drying at 60°C vs. freeze drying) were allocated in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in vitro. In Trial 2, six steers and dietary inclusions of untreated RSC (control), CuSO₄ -treated RSC and CuSO₄ -added RSC were assigned in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. CuSO₄ treatment in vitro decreased the contents of GLS and thiocyanate (TC) in RSC (p < 0.001). The total amount of GLS and TC decreased by 62.7-68.5% for all treatments. The animal trial showed that CuSO₄ -treated RSC inclusion decreased ruminal concentration of valerate (p < 0.01), whereas it did not affect ruminal pH, ammonia N and total volatile fatty acids. Compared with the control, feeding CuSO₄ -treated or CuSO₄ -added RSC had no effect on plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, N excretion and N retention. CuSO₄ -treated RSC tended to increase neutral detergent fibre digestibility (p = 0.072) and urinary excretion of urea (p = 0.056). Urinary excretion of purine derivatives (p = 0.076) and rumen microbial N supply (p = 0.084) tended to decrease when feeding CuSO₄ -treated RSC versus control. TC was found to be the only metabolite of GLS in rumen fluid, plasma and urine. It was feasible to detoxify GLS in RSC using low CuSO₄ at room temperature. However, feeding CuSO₄ -treated or CuSO₄ -added RSC had minor effects on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestion and N metabolism in steers. CuSO₄ treatment on RSC for feeding steers seems to be unnecessary.

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.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Infection Triggers Changes in Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating plant pathogen that causes substantial losses in various agricultural crops. Although plants have developed some well-known defense mechanisms against invasive fungi, much remains to be learned about plant responses to fungal pathogens. In this study, we investigated how S. sclerotiorum infection affects plant primary and secondary metabolism in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results showed that soluble sugar and amino acid content changed significantly in A. thaliana leaves upon fungal colonization, with a decrease in sucrose and an increase in mannitol, attributed to fungal biosynthesis. Furthermore, the jasmonate signaling pathway was rapidly activated by S. sclerotiorum infection, and there was a striking accumulation of antifungal metabolites such as camalexin, p-coumaroyl agmatine, feruloyl agmatine, and N^δ-acetylornithine. On the other hand, the characteristic defense compounds of the Brassicaceae, the glucosinolates, were not induced in A. thaliana infected by S. sclerotiorum. Our study provides a better understanding of how A. thaliana primary and secondary metabolism is modified during infection by a fungal pathogen like S. sclerotiorum that has both hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic stages.

Ecological convergence of secondary phytochemicals along elevational gradients

Biologists still strive to identify the ecological and evolutionary drivers of phytochemical variation that mediate biotic interactions. We hypothesized that plant species growing at sites characterized by high herbivore pressure would converge to produce highly toxic blends of secondary metabolites, independent of phylogenetic constraints. To address the role of shared evolutionary history and ecological niches in driving variation in plant phytochemistry, we combined targeted metabolomics with insect herbivore bioassays and with a set of growth-related traits of several Cardamine species growing along the entire elevational gradient of the Alps. We observed that Cardamine phytochemical profiles grouped according to previously established growth form categorizations within specific abiotic conditions, independently of phylogenetic relationship. We also showed that novel indices summarizing functional phytochemical diversity better explain plant resistance against chewing and sap-feeding herbivores than classic diversity indices. We conclude that multiple functional axes of phytochemical diversity should be integrated with the functional axis of plant growth forms to study phenotypic convergence along large-scale ecological gradients.

Overexpression of the ribosomal S30 subunit leads to indole-3-carbinol tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a hydrolysis product of indole-3-methylglucosinolate, is toxic to herbivorous insects and pathogens. In mammals, I3C is extensively studied for its properties in cancer prevention and treatment. Produced in Brassicaceae, I3C reversibly inhibits root elongation in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibition is partially explained by the antagonistic action of I3C on auxin signaling through TIR1. To further elucidate the mode of action of I3C in plants, we have identified and characterized a novel Arabidopsis mutant tolerant to I3C, ICT1. This mutant was identified following screening of the Full-length cDNA Over-eXpression library (FOX) seed collection for root growth in the presence of exogenous I3C. ICT1 carries the AT2G19750 gene, which encodes an S30 ribosomal protein. Overexpression, but not knockout, of the S30 gene causes tolerance to I3C. The tolerance is specific to I3C, since ICT1 did not exhibit pronounced tolerance to other indole or benzoxazinoid molecules tested. ICT1 maintains I3C-induced antagonism of auxin signaling, indicating that the tolerance is due to an auxin-independent mechanism. Transcript profiling experiments revealed that ICT1 is transcriptionally primed to respond to I3C treatment.

Pinpointing secondary metabolites that shape the composition and function of the plant microbiome

One of the major questions in contemporary plant science involves determining the functional mechanisms that plants use to shape their microbiome. Plants produce a plethora of chemically diverse secondary metabolites, many of which exert bioactive effects on microorganisms. Several recent publications have unequivocally shown that plant secondary metabolites affect microbiome composition and function. These studies have pinpointed that the microbiome can be influenced by a diverse set of molecules, including: coumarins, glucosinolates, benzoxazinoids, camalexin, and triterpenes. In this review, we summarize the role of secondary metabolites in shaping the plant microbiome, highlighting recent literature. A body of knowledge is now emerging that links specific plant metabolites with distinct microbial responses, mediated via defined biochemical mechanisms. There is significant potential to boost agricultural sustainability via the targeted enhancement of beneficial microbial traits, and here we argue that the newly discovered links between root chemistry and microbiome composition could provide a new set of tools for rationally manipulating the plant microbiome.

Preharvest Methyl Jasmonate Treatment Increased the Antioxidant Activity and Glucosinolate Contents of Hydroponically Grown Pak Choi

Vertical hydroponics farming has emerged as an alternative solution to feed the continuously growing world population. Additionally, recent studies reported that the exogenous treatments of jasmonic acid influence the phytochemical composition of Brassicaceae. We conducted this study to determine the effect of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of soil- and hydroponically grown pak choi. An aqueous solution of 0.5-mM MeJA was sprayed to saturation on the aerial plant part three days before harvest. The harvested pak choi was freeze-dried and then powdered to measure the antioxidant activity and the contents of chlorophylls (Chls), total phenolics and flavonoids, and glucosinolates (GSLs). The overall results revealed that pak choi grown in vertical hydroponics had higher total Chls and total phenolics than those grown in soil in the greenhouse, regardless of MeJA treatment. Nevertheless, the GSLs content and total flavonoids increased significantly due to MeJA treatment in both growing systems, and the highest values were recorded in hydroponically grown MeJA-treated pak choi. Similarly, the 2, 2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (ABTS), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were highest in hydroponically grown MeJA-treated pak choi. Taken together, the preharvest foliar treatment of MeJA can be used to improve the phytochemical composition of pak choi grown in both growing systems. Interestingly, the results strongly support the use of MeJA treatment in the vertical hydroponics growing system compared to the conventional growing system in the soil. This indicates that supplementing the vertical hydroponic growing system with preharvest MeJA treatment could be the best option to improve both the yield per square meter and the quality of pak choi. Besides, MeJA-treated pak choi could be used as a value-added horticultural commodity, as its antioxidant activity increased after treatment. Moreover, after further studies, MeJA could also be applied to other Brassica vegetables to improve their GSL contents and antioxidant properties.

Flaxseed and Camelina Meals as Potential Sources of Health-Beneficial Compounds

Seed meals and cakes, deriving from minor oilseed crops, represent interesting co-products for the presence of a high content of proteins and bioactive compounds that could be successfully explored as valuable plant-derived feedstocks for food and non-food purposes. In this contest, flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) are becoming increasingly important in the health food market as functional foods and cosmetic ingredients. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of genetic characteristics and cultivation sites on the chemical features of seed meals deriving from two flaxseed varieties (Sideral and Buenos Aires) and a camelina cultivar (Italia), cultivated in Central and Northern Italy (Pisa and Bologna). The content of total phenols and flavonoids, seed oil, proteins and fatty acids have been evaluated, together with the chemical profiles of flaxseed and camelina meals. In addition, radical-scavenging activity has been investigated. All the examined seed meals resulted as rich in bioactive compounds. In particular, flaxseed meal is a good source of the lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides, while camelina meal contains glucosinolates and quercetin glycosides. Furthermore, all extracts exhibited a very strong radical-scavenging activity, that make these plant-derived products interesting sources for food or cosmetic ingredients with health outcomes.

Revalorized broccoli by-products and mustard improved quality during shelf life of a kale pesto sauce

The effect of revalorized Bimi leaves (B) and/or mustard (M) addition, as supplementary ingredients, to develop an innovative kale (K) pesto sauce was studied. Microbial, physicochemical (color, total soluble solids content -SSC-, pH and titratable acidity -TA-) and sensory quality were studied during 20 days at 5 °C. Bioactive compounds changes (total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity and glucoraphanin contents) were also monitored throughout storage. The high TA and pH changes in the last 6 days of storage were avoided in the K+B pesto when adding mustard, due to the antimicrobial properties of this brassica seed. SSC was increased when B + M were added to the K pesto, which positively masked the kale-typical bitterness. Mustard addition hardly change yellowness of the K pesto, being not detected in the sensory analyses, showing K+B+M pesto the lowest color differences after 20 days of shelf life. The addition of Bimi leaves to the K pesto enhanced its phenolic content while mustard addition did not negatively affect such total antioxidant compounds content. Finally, mustard addition effectively aimed to glucoraphanin conversion to its bioactive products. Conclusively, an innovative kale pesto supplemented with Bimi by-products was hereby developed, being its overall quality well preserved up to 20 days at 5 °C due to the mustard addition.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of HOS1 Reveals Its Role in the Regulation of Secondary Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis, the RING finger-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENES 1 (HOS1) functions as a main regulator of the cold signaling. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of the HOS1 gene in the first exon was performed. DNA sequencing showed that frameshift indels introduced by genome editing of HOS1 resulted in the appearance of premature stop codons, disrupting the open reading frame. Obtained hos1^Cas9 mutant plants were compared with the SALK T-DNA insertion mutant, line hos1-3, in terms of their tolerance to abiotic stresses, accumulation of secondary metabolites and expression levels of genes participating in these processes. Upon exposure to cold stress, enhanced tolerance and expression of cold-responsive genes were observed in both hos1-3 and hos1^Cas9 plants. The hos1 mutation caused changes in the synthesis of phytoalexins in transformed cells. The content of glucosinolates (GSLs) was down-regulated by 1.5-times, while flavonol glycosides were up-regulated by 1.2 to 4.2 times in transgenic plants. The transcript abundance of the corresponding MYB and bHLH transcription factors, which are responsible for the regulation of secondary metabolism in Arabidopsis, were also altered. Our data suggest a relationship between HOS1-regulated downstream signaling and phytoalexin biosynthesis.

Liquiritoside Alleviated Pb Induced Stress in Brassica rapa subsp. Parachinensis: Modulations in Glucosinolate Content and Some Physiochemical Attributes

Current research was conducted to explore the effects of liquiritoside on the growth and physiochemical features of Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. parachinensis) under lead (Pb) stress. Lead stressed B. rapa plants exhibited decreased growth parameters, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents. Moreover, Pb toxicity escalated the synthesis of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), flavonoids, phenolics, and proline in treated plants. Nevertheless, foliar application of liquiritoside mitigated Pb toxicity by decreasing oxidative stress by reducing cysteine, H₂O_2, and MDA contents in applied plants. Liquiritoside significantly increased plant height, shoot fresh weight and dry weight, number of leaves, and marketable value of Chinese flowering cabbage plants exposed to Pb toxicity. This biotic elicitor also enhanced the proline, glutathione, total phenolics, and flavonoid contents in Chinese flowering cabbage plants exposed to Pb stress compared with the control. Additionally, total glucosinolate content, phytochelatins (PCs), and non-protein thiols were effectively increased in plants grown under Pb regimes compared with the control plants. Overall, foliar application of liquiritoside can markedly alleviate Pb stress by restricting Pb translocation in Chinese flowering cabbage.

Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factors MYB28 and MYB29 shape ammonium stress responses by regulating Fe homeostasis

Although ammonium (NH₄⁺ ) is a key intermediate of plant nitrogen metabolism, high concentrations of NH₄⁺ in the soil provoke physiological disorders that lead to the development of stress symptoms. Ammonium nutrition was shown to induce the accumulation of glucosinolates (GSLs) in leaves of different Brassicaceae species. To further understand the link between ammonium nutrition and GSLs, we analysed the ammonium stress response of Arabidopsis mutants impaired in GSL metabolic pathway. We showed that the MYB28 and MYB29 double mutant (myb28myb29), which is almost deprived of aliphatic GSLs, is highly hypersensitive to ammonium nutrition. Moreover, we evidenced that the stress symptoms developed were not a consequence of the lack of aliphatic GSLs. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted the induction of an iron (Fe) deficiency response in myb28myb29 under ammonium nutrition. Consistently, ammonium-grown myb28myb29 plants showed altered Fe accumulation and homeostasis. Interestingly, we showed overall that growing Arabidopsis with increased Fe availability relieved ammonium stress symptoms and that this was associated with MYB28 and MYB29 expression. Taken together, our data indicated that the control of Fe homeostasis was crucial for the Arabidopsis response to ammonium nutrition and evidenced that MYB28 and MYB29 play a role in this control.

Quantitative 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (qHNMR) methods for accurate purity determination of glucosinolates isolated from Isatis indigotica roots

INTRODUCTION

Glucosinolates (1-5) are important secondary metabolites found in Isatis indigotica roots. Due to their high hydrophilic and ionic nature, purified glucosinolates often contain salt impurities and moisture. Accurate assessment of their purities is important for glucosinolates being utilised as chemical markers.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate quantitative proton (¹ H) nuclear magnetic resonance (qHNMR) methods for purity assessments of aliphatic and indole glucosinolates (1-5).

METHOD

Several NMR parameters such as pulse program, relaxation time, and delay time were optimised. Three qHNMR methods were developed using gluconapin (3), neoglucobrassicin (4), and sinigrin (5) for method validation and with maleic acid as internal standard.

RESULTS

The quantification was based on the integrated area ratios of an olefinic proton (H-4 for 1-3; H-6 for 4; and H-3 for 5) of the side chain from glucosinolates relative to the olefinic proton from the internal standard using deuterated water (D₂ O) as the solvent. The qHNMR methods were successfully applied for purity assessments of four aliphatic glucosinolates (1-3 and 5: progoitrin, epiprogoitrin, gluconapin, and sinigrin), and an indole glucosinolate (4: neoglucobrassicin).

CONCLUSION

The purity of glucosinolates isolated from I. indigotica and commercial sinigrin was accurately assessed using the developed qHNMR method. The qHNMR provides a reliable and superior means to determine the purity of glucosinolates.

[Quality evaluation method of Lepidium meyenii using UPLC-UV-Q-TOF-MS]

In order to evaluate the quality of different varieties of Maca(Lepidium meyenii), the main chemical components in Maca were investigated and a method for simultaneous determination of the main chemical components in Maca was established. UPLC-UV-Q-TOF-MS technology and reference materials were used to identify the structures of 19 main components in Maca. Seven compounds with UV absorption and high contents were selected to establish a simultaneous concentration determination method. The method was employed with a Waters Acquity I-Class~(TM) liquid chromatographic system coupled with a PDA detector and a Waters Acquity Cortecs C_(18)~+ column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.6 μm), and acetonitrile-0.2% phosphoric acid water was used as mobile phase(0.45 mL·min~(-1)). The detection wavelength was 195 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 40 ℃. There was efficient separation of seven compounds, p-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate, benzylglucosinolate, N-benzyl-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienamid, N-benzyl-9Z,12Z-octadecadienamide, N-(3-methoxybenzyl)-hexadecanamide, N-benzyl-hexadecanamide, and N-benzyl-9Z-octadecenamide. The stan-dard calibration curves were good(R~2&gt;0.999). The precision, stability and repeatability were also good. The linearity ranges were 0.197-4.980 μg·mL~(-1) to 193.67-796.8 μg·mL~(-1), and the average recovery rate was 96.71%-103.9%. The average concentration of glucosinolates and macamides in Maca were 1.20% and 0.20%, respectively. Among four kinds of Maca grown in China, the concentration of glucosinolates in yellow Maca and black Maca were relatively high(1.55%), followed by white Maca(0.93%), and purple Maca(0.76%). The concentration of macamides in yellow, purple and white Maca was similar(0.23%-0.29%), however black Maca had significantly lower concentration(0.15%). Peru Maca tested in this study had the lowest concentration of these compounds. This qua-lity evaluation method was fast, accurate, and comprehensively reflects the concentration of the main chemical components in Maca, which provides a useful reference for the quality control and evaluation of Maca.

High Glucosinolate Content in Rocket Leaves (Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Eruca sativa) after Multiple Harvests Is Associated with Increased Bitterness, Pungency, and Reduced Consumer Liking

Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Eruca sativa) leaves delivered to the UK market are variable in appearance, taste, and flavour over the growing season. This study presents sensory and consumer analyses of rocket produce delivered to the UK over the course of one year, and evaluated the contribution of environmental and cultivation factors upon quality traits and phytochemicals called glucosinolates (GSLs). GSL abundance was positively correlated with higher average growth temperatures during the crop cycle, and perceptions of pepperiness, bitterness, and hotness. This in turn was associated with reduced liking, and corresponded to low consumer acceptance. Conversely, leaves with greater sugar content were perceived as more sweet, and had a higher correlation with consumer acceptance of the test panel. First cut leaves of rocket were favoured more by consumers, with multiple leaf cuts associated with low acceptance and higher glucosinolate concentrations. Our data suggest that the practice of harvesting rocket crops multiple times reduces consumer acceptability due to increases in GSLs, and the associated bitter, hot, and peppery perceptions some of their hydrolysis products produce. This may have significant implications for cultivation practices during seasonal transitions, where leaves typically receive multiple harvests and longer growth cycles.

Effects of Supplementary Blue and UV-A LED Lights on Morphology and Phytochemicals of Brassicaceae Baby-Leaves

Brassicaceae baby-leaves are good source of functional phytochemicals. To investigate how Chinese kale and pak-choi baby-leaves in response to different wavebands of blue (430 nm and 465 nm) and UV-A (380 nm and 400 nm) LED, the plant growth, glucosinolates, antioxidants, and minerals were determined. Both agronomy traits and phytochemical contents were significantly affected. Blue and UV-A light played a predominant role in increasing the plant biomass and morphology, as well as the contents of antioxidant compounds (vitamin C, vitamin E, phenolics, and individual flavonols), the antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP), and the total glucosinolates accumulation. In particular, four light wavebands significantly decreased the content of progoitrin, while 400 nm UV-A light and 430 nm blue light were efficient in elevating the contents of sinigrin and glucobrassicin in Chinese kale. Meanwhile, 400 nm UV-A light was able to increase the contents of glucoraphanin, sinigrin, and glucobrassicin in pak-choi. From the global view of heatmap, blue lights were more efficient in increasing the yield and phytochemical levels of two baby-leaves.

Effect of a natural supplement containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids on body weight and metabolic parameters in a menopausal murine model induced by bilateral ovariectomy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a herbal preparation containing glucosinolates, phytosterols and citrus flavonoids (supplement) on body weight and metabolic parameters usually impaired by menopause.

METHODS

A pre-clinical experimental study carried out in twenty-five Swiss strain mice (Mus musculus) randomly distributed (1:1:1:1:1 ratio) to five groups to receive for ten weeks: (1) oral gelatinized maca extract 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (Maca + OVX); (2) oral supplement 0.5625 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S1 + OVX); (3) oral supplement 1.6875 mg/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (S2 + OVX); (4) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + bilateral ovariectomy (OVX); and (5) oral saline 100 µl/kg/day + sham surgery (sham). The primary endpoint was change in body weight gain from baseline to final. Secondary endpoints were uterine weight and cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and glucose/triglycerides index values at the end of the study. A modified intention-to-treat analysis was performed through linear regression models and using the Bonferroni method to penalized p-values by multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Twenty-three animals completed the study. There was a significant average difference in weight gain, with a greater reduction in the S2 + OVX group compared to the OVX group (difference= -3.5; 95% CI (-5.27; -1.74); p < .001). S2 + OVX group also displayed a significant average reduction of total blood cholesterol (difference: -16.94; 95% CI (-33.73; -0.15); p = .037). No significant effects of the supplement were found on other secondary endpoints.

CONCLUSION

In this murine menopausal model, triple oral supplement dose resulted in an average reduction of weight gain and total cholesterol levels, suggesting that the compound could have a potential effect at regulating menopausal altered metabolism.

The Relationship between Glucosinolates and the Sensory Characteristics of Steamed-Pureed Turnip (Brassica Rapa subsp. Rapa L.)

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are phytochemical compounds that can be found in Brassica vegetables. Seven separate batches of steamed-pureed turnip were assessed for GSL content using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and for sensory attributes by sensory profiling (carried out by a trained sensory panel). Twelve individual GSLs, which included 7 aliphatic, 4 indole and 1 arylaliphatic GSL, were identified across all batches. There were significant differences in individual GSL content between batches, with gluconasturtiin as the most abundant GSL. The total GSL content ranged from 16.07 to 44.74 μmol g^-1 dry weight (DW). Sensory profiling concluded there were positive correlations between GSLs and bitter taste and negative correlations between GSLs (except glucobrassicanapin) and sweet taste. The batches, which had been purchased across different seasons, all led to cooked turnip that contained substantial levels of GSLs which were subsequently all rated as bitter.

Decline in Soil Microbial Abundance When Camelina Introduced Into a Monoculture Wheat System

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] of the Brassicaceae family is a potential alternative and oilseed biofuel crop for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems of the Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States. We investigated the effect of this relatively new rotational crop on soil microbial communities. An 8-year cropping systems experiment was initiated in 2007 at Lind, WA, to compare a 3-year rotation of winter wheat (WW)-camelina (C)-fallow (F) to the typical 2-year WW-F rotation. All phases of both rotations (total = 20 plots) were present every year to allow valid statistical analysis and data interpretations. Monoculture WW-F is the dominant system practiced by the vast majority of farmers on 1.56 million ha of cropland in the PNW drylands that receive <300 mm average annual precipitation. Microbial abundance and community composition were determined using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) from soil samples collected during 3 consecutive years beginning in 2010. The abundance of fungi, mycorrhizae, Gram positive and negative bacteria, and total microbial abundance all declined over the 3-year period in the WW-C-F rotation compared to the WW-F rotation. All microbial lipid biomarkers were significantly less in fallow compared to WW of the WW-C-F rotation. The 2-year WW-F rotation demonstrated few differences in microbial lipid abundance and community structure between the rotation phases. Microbial abundance declined and community structure shifted in the 3-year WW-C-F rotation likely due to the combination of a Brassica crop followed by a 13-month-long fallow. The results of this study suggest that camelina in combination with a fallow period may disrupt microbial communities that have become stable under historical WW-F monocropping. Such disturbances have the potential to affect soil processes that have been provided by wheat-adapted microbial communities. However, the disruption appears to be short-lived with the microbial abundance of WW in the WW-C-F rotation, returning to similar levels observed in the WW-F rotation.

Study on Human Urinary Metabolic Profiles after Consumption of Kale and Daikon Radish using a High-resolution Mass Spectrometry-Based Non-targeted and Targeted Metabolomic Approach

In the present study, urine samples were collected from healthy human volunteers to determine the metabolic fates of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates after a single meal of kale and daikon radish. The major glucosinolates and phenolic compounds in kale and daikon radish were measured. The urinary metabolome after feeding at different time periods was investigated. A targeted metabolite analysis method was developed based on the known metabolic pathways for glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. Using a targeted approach, a total of 18 metabolites were found in urine: 4 from phenolic compounds and 14 from glucosinolates. Among these metabolites, 4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, 4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate-cysteine, and 4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenylglucosinolate-N-acetyl cysteine were reported for the first time in human urine. The combination of non-targeted and targeted metabolomic approaches can gain a full metabolite profile for human dietary intervention studies.

Phytochemical and Biological Activity Studies on Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) Microshoot Cultures Grown in RITA® Temporary Immersion Systems

The main compounds in both extracts were gluconasturtiin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin and rutoside, the amounts of which were, respectively, determined as 182.93, 58.86 and 23.24 mg/100 g dry weight (DW) in biomass extracts and 640.94, 23.47 and 7.20 mg/100 g DW in plant herb extracts. The antioxidant potential of all the studied extracts evaluated using CUPRAC (CUPric Reducing Antioxidant Activity), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays was comparable. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was tested based on the inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and phospholipase A₂. The results demonstrate significantly higher inhibition of COX-2 for in vitro cultured biomass compared with the herb extracts (75.4 and 41.1%, respectively). Moreover, all the studied extracts showed almost similar antibacterial and antifungal potential. Based on these findings, and due to the fact that the growth of in vitro microshoots is independent of environmental conditions and unaffected by environmental pollution, we propose that biomass that can be rapidly grown in RITA^® bioreactors can serve as an alternative source of bioactive compounds with valuable biological properties.

Potential of Germination in Selected Conditions to Improve the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.)

Moringa oleifera L. is greatly appreciated for its high content of phytochemicals. Although most parts of moringa tree have been widely studied, seeds remained scarcely explored. The first goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of germination to improve the nutritional composition (proximate composition and levels of vitamins B1 and B2), content of bioactive compounds (glucosinolates, phenolics and γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA) and antioxidant activity of moringa seed. Germination improved protein, fat, fiber, riboflavin, phenolics, some individual glucosinolates (GLS) and GABA contents, as well as the antioxidant potential in moringa sprouts, but the extent of the improvement depended on germination conditions. The second objective of this work was to identify the optimal germination conditions to maximize nutritional and bioactive quality of moringa by applying multi-response optimization (response surface methodology, RSM). RSM models indicated that 28 °C and 24 h were the optimal conditions to enhance the accumulation of riboflavin, phenolics and antioxidant activity of sprouts, while the highest GABA and total GLS contents were observed at 36 °C for 96 h and thiamine achieved the maximum content at 36 °C for 24 h. These results show that moringa sprouts are promising functional foods that might be also used as ingredients for the elaboration of novel foodstuffs.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of Endophytic Fungi Growing on Extracts of the Host, Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

The interaction between plant defensive metabolites and different plant-associated fungal species is of high interest to many disciplines. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are natural products that are easily evaporated under ambient conditions. They play a very important role in inter-species communication of microbes and their hosts. In this study, the VOCs produced by 43 different fungal isolates of endophytic and soil fungi during growth on horseradish root (Armoracia rusticana) extract or malt extract agar were examined, by using headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (headspace-GC-MS) and a high relative surface agar film as a medium. The proposed technique enabled sensitive detection of several typical VOCs (acetone, methyl acetate, methyl formate, ethyl acetate, methyl butanol isomers, styrene, beta-phellandrene), along with glucosinolate decomposition products, including allyl cyanide and allyl isothiocyanate and other sulfur-containing compounds—carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide. The VOC patterns of fungi belonging to Setophoma, Paraphoma, Plectosphaerella, Pyrenochaeta, Volutella, Cadophora, Notophoma, and Curvularia genera were described for the first time. The VOC pattern was significantly different among the isolates. The pattern was indicative of putative myrosinase activity for many tested isolates. On the other hand, endophytes and soil fungi as groups could not be separated by VOC pattern or intensity.