Contribution of the Glucosinolate Fraction to the Overall Antioxidant Potential, Cytoprotection against Oxidative Insult and Antimicrobial Activity of Eruca sativa Mill. Leaves Extract

Role of Eruca sativa L. seeds in boosting the reproductive performance of male Japanese quails (Coturnix c. japonica)

Herein we attempt to shed light on the potential improving effect of Eruca sativa seeds (ESS) on the reproductive aspects of male Japanese quails. To accomplish this objective, two groups of quails were supplemented with ESS powder at doses of 5 and 10 g/kg feed from 7 days to 140 days of age, in addition to the control group, which did not receive treatment. Forty males were reared singly in cages to evaluate sperm characters and 32 males were raised with 64 females to evaluate fertility and sperm penetrability. Sixty-six phytochemical compounds were found according to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of ESS. The most plentiful ones are 13-docosenoic acid methyl ester, 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, and linoleic acid methyl ester. Both 5 g/kg and 10 g/kg doses of ESS showed similar effectiveness in enhancing various reproductive parameters, including gonadal index, sperm characteristics, fertility, libido, and cloacal gland attributes. However, some aspects like sperm concentration and testosterone levels exhibited a dose-dependent response. There is no significant change in mortality rate of supplemented groups compared to the control one. ESS also caused a reduction in feed intake and an enhancement in feed conversion ratio without affecting final body weight and body weight gain. This suggests potential nutritional benefits beyond reproductive health. The low-dose-fed group showed a significant reduction in total cholesterol and malondialdehyde compared to the high-dose-fed and unfed groups. The higher dose notably increased total antioxidant capacity compared to the lower dose and control group. Despite the positive effects on male reproductive parameters, there wasn't a significant impact on hatchability percentage, indicating that while male fertility improved, it might not have directly affected the viability of the eggs. Overall, the study suggests that ESS could be a safe and promising addition to the diet of male Japanese quails to enhance their reproductive capabilities without adverse effects. The findings could have implications for poultry farming by potentially improving breeding efficiency and health outcomes in quails.

Emerging Role of Eruca sativa Mill. in Male Reproductive Health

A growing interest has been drawn to the use of traditional medicinal plants for the treatment of human diseases and, in particular, infertility and reproductive toxicity associated with environmental factors. The Mediterranean basin area is a recognized source of plant species with therapeutic interest. In this frame, Eruca sativa (ES) is an annual edible plant and a member of the Brassicaceae family. A relatively large number of studies, focusing on the biological effects of the extract from the leaves of ES on in vitro and in vivo models of disease, have been published in recent years. The present narrative review aims to analyze the phytochemical constituents, traditional uses, possible pharmacological activities, and recognized effects of ES on male reproductive outcomes. Available investigations have revealed the presence of a number of compounds with antioxidant properties, such as polyphenols, glucosinolates, flavonoids, and carotenoids in extracts from ES. Based on the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of the aforementioned compounds, we show that ES has possible preventive properties and therapeutic uses, especially in the functional derangements of the male reproductive system.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Drought-Induced Stomatal Closure: The Potential Roles of NPR1

Stomatal closure is a vital, adaptive mechanism that plants utilize to minimize water loss and withstand drought conditions. We will briefly review the pathway triggered by drought that governs stomatal closure, with specific focuses on salicylic acid (SA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). We propose that the non-expressor of PR Gene 1 (NPR1), a protein that protects plants during pathogen infections, also responds to SA during drought to sustain ROS levels and prevent ROS-induced cell death. We will examine the evidence underpinning this hypothesis and discuss potential strategies for its practical implementation.

Fresh-Cut Eruca Sativa Treated with Plasma Activated Water (PAW): Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity, Polyphenolic Profile and Redox Status in Caco2 Cells

Plasma Activated Water (PAW) has recently emerged as a promising non-chemical and non-thermal technology for the microbial decontamination of food. However, its use as a replacement for conventional disinfection solutions needs further investigation, as the impact of reactive species generated by PAW on nutritional food quality, toxicology, and safety is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate how treatment with PAW affects the health-promoting properties of fresh-cut rocket salad (Eruca sativa). Therefore, the polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity were evaluated by a combination of UHPLC-MS/MS and in vitro assays. Moreover, the effects of polyphenolic extracts on cell viability and oxidative status in Caco2 cells were assessed. PAW caused a slight reduction in the radical scavenging activity of the amphiphilic fraction over time but produced a positive effect on the total phenolic content, of about 70% in PAW-20, and an increase in the relative percentage (about 44-50%) of glucosinolate. Interestingly, the PAW polyphenol extract did not cause any cytotoxic effect and caused a lower imbalance in the redox status compared to an untreated sample. The obtained results support the use of PAW technology for fresh-cut vegetables to preserve their nutritional properties.

Glutamic Acid and Poly-γ-glutamic Acid Enhanced the Heat Resistance of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) by Improving Carotenoid Biosynthesis, Photosynthesis, and ROS Signaling

Heat stress is one of the most common agrometeorological risks in crop production in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. This study aimed to investigate whether glutamic acid (Glu) or poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) biostimulants can improve the thermotolerance of a cool-season Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) crop. Priming with Glu (2.0 mM) or γ-PGA (20 mg·L⁻¹) was conducted at the third leaf stage by applying as daily foliar sprays for 5 days before 5 days of heat stress (45 °C in 16-h light/35 °C in 8-h dark). Coupled with morpho-physiological and biochemical analyses, transcriptomes of Glu or γ-PGA-primed Chinese cabbage under heat stress were examined by RNA-seq analysis. The results showed that the thermotolerance conferred by Glu and γ-PGA priming was associated with the increased parameters of vegetative growth, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence. Compared with the control, the dry weights of plants treated with Glu and γ-PGA increased by 51.52% and 39.39%, respectively. Glu and γ-PGA application also significantly increased the contents of total chlorophyll by 42.21% and 23.12%, and carotenoid by 32.00% and 24.00%, respectively. In addition, Glu- and γ-PGA-primed plants markedly inhibited the levels of malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, and super-oxide anion radical, which was accompanied by enhanced activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD). Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) categories within the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) functional clusters of RNA-seq data indicated that the expression levels of the genes for DNA replication, DNA repair system, linoleic acid metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, and plant–pathogen interaction were commonly up-regulated by both Glu and γ-PGA priming. Glu treatment enhanced the expression levels of the genes involved in aliphatic glucosinolate and 2-oxocarboxylic acid, while γ-PGA treatment activated carotenoid cleavage reaction to synthesize abscisic acid. Taken together, both Glu and γ-PGA have great potential for the preadaptation of Chinese cabbage seedlings to heat stress, with Glu being more effective than γ-PGA.

Light Intensity Plays Contrasting Roles in Regulating Metabolite Compositions in Choy Sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis)

Light intensity can be an efficient tool in regulating leafy vegetable quality and yet little is known mechanistically hitherto. In this study, choy sum metabolic responses to progressively increasing white light intensity were investigated in terms of its essential metabolites including chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and glucosinolates. Significant enhancements were observed in choy sum's nutritional quality like the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity under a high intensity of light. However, progoitrin was significantly increased by up to 7.54-fold under a low light intensity of 50 μmol/(m²·s) compared with high light intensity, presenting a unique virus/pest-prevention strategy of choy sum under poor growth status. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a linear relationship between the light intensity and some metabolites. Principal component analysis further confirmed such contrasting roles of light intensity. The new knowledge gained about light-influenced choy sum metabolite levels can be critical in directing farmers in indoor farming practice for improving vegetable nutritional values.

Ultraviolet-B radiation exposure lowers the antioxidant capacity in the Arabidopsis thaliana pdx1.3-1 mutant and leads to glucosinolate biosynthesis alteration in both wild type and mutant

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and its vitamers are used by living organisms both as enzymatic cofactors and as antioxidants. We used Arabidopsis pyridoxine biosynthesis mutant pdx1.3-1 to study the involvement of the PLP-synthase main polypeptide PDX1 in plant responses to ultraviolet radiation of two different qualities, one containing primarily UV-A (315-400 nm) and the other containing both UV-A and UV-B (280-315 nm). The antioxidant capacity and the flavonoid and glucosinolate (GS) profiles were examined. As an indicator of stress, Fv/Fm of photosystem II reaction centers was used. In pdx1.3-1, UV-A + B exposure led to a significant 5% decrease in Fv/Fm on the last day (day 15), indicating mild stress at this time point. The antioxidant capacity of Col-0 wildtype increased significantly (50-73%) after 1 and 3 days of UV-A + B. Instead, in pdx1.3-1, the antioxidant capacity significantly decreased by 44-52% over the same time period, proving the importance of a full complement of functional PDX1 genes for the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. There were no significant changes in the flavonoid glycoside profile under any light condition. However, the GS profile was significantly altered, both with respect to Arabidopsis accession and exposure to UV. The difference in flavonoid and GS profiles reflects that the GS biosynthesis pathway contains at least one pyridoxine-dependent enzyme, whereas no such enzyme is used in flavonoid biosynthesis. Also, there was strong correlation between the antioxidant capacity and the content of some GS compounds. Our results show that vitamin B6 vitamers, functioning both as antioxidants and co-factors, are of importance for the physiological fitness of plants.

Phytochemical Characterization and Biological Activities of a Hydroalcoholic Extract Obtained from the Aerial Parts of Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. subsp. incana (Brassicaceae) Growing Wild in Sicily (Italy)

This study aimed to characterize the phenolic and the volatile constituents and to establish the antioxidant potential and the toxicity of a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the leaves and flower buds of Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. subsp. incana growing wild in Sicily (Italy). By HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS analysis, 12 phenolics (two phenolic acid derivatives and ten flavonoids) were identified, and eight of them were reported for the first time; luteolin-glucoside was the main component (57.07 mg/g±0.87 % RSD). By SPME-GC/MS, 47 volatile constituents were fully characterized, and dimethyl trisulfide turned out to be the most abundant one (33.24 %). The extract showed moderate activity both in the DPPH and in the reducing power assays (IC₅₀ =2.32±0.24 mg/mL; ASE/mL=12.29±0.42); it did not inhibit the lipid peroxidation, whereas it was found to possess good chelating properties reaching approximately 90 % activity at the highest tested dose. Moreover, the extract protected growth and survival from H₂ O₂ -induced oxidative stress in Escherichia coli. Finally, the extract was non-toxic against Artemia salina (LC₅₀ >1000 μg/mL). These findings increase the knowledge of M. incana subsp. incana and they could be helpful to a chemosystematic distinguishing of this subspecies also demonstrating that the aerial parts represent a safe source of antioxidants.

Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton leaves and flower buds: Effect of extraction solvent/technique on their antioxidant ability, antimicrobial properties and phenolic profile

This study was designed to establish the most effective solvent/technique for extracting antioxidant phytoconstituents from leaves and flower buds of Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton (Asteraceae) grown wild in Morocco. Maceration and hot extraction with methanol or water and Soxhlet ethanol extraction were utilized. The antioxidant potential was evaluated in vitro by DPPH, reducing power, and ferrous ions chelating activity assays. I. viscosa leaf and flower bud extracts displayed the strongest effect in the DPPH test, being the Soxhlet ethanol the most active ones (IC₅₀ = 54.24 ± 0.21 μg/mL and 39.77 ± 0.23 μg/mL); thus, they were selected for further investigations. The antimicrobial efficacy of the Soxhlet ethanol extracts against ATCC and food isolates strains was assayed; the leaf extract showed the best activity, and Candida albicans was the most sensitive strain (MIC = 125 µg/mL). The extracts resulted non-toxic against Artemia salina. Among the phenolics characterised by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS, hispidulin hexoside, patuletin and spinacetin were identified for the first time.