Plant Nutrition for Human Health: A Pictorial Review on Plant Bioactive Compounds for Sustainable Agriculture

Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species

This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.

The behavior of arsenic accumulation in onion (Allium cepa) structures by irrigation water: effect of phosphates and arsenic on the total bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity

The presence of arsenic (As) in irrigation water is a threat to agricultural crops as well as human health. The presence of arsenic and phosphorous in irrigation water influences the behavior of bioaccumulation, biotransfer, and total bioactive compounds in the distinct parts of the onion structure. The present work evaluates the behavior of the bioaccumulation and biotransfer of As in the structures of onion (Allium cepa) through a composite central design and response surface method. The factors employed include the concentration of arsenic (V) and phosphate (V) in the nutritive solution. Additionally, this study analyzes the behavior of the effect that the induced stress has on the total bioactive compounds (phenols and flavonoids) and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH) in the onion roots. The results showed that the physiological properties, bioaccumulation factors, As transference, and the total bioactive compounds in the onion structure are affected by the competition of As and phosphates (P(V)) in the irrigation water. For concentrations of As and phosphorous of 450 μg L-1 and 0.30 mg L-1 respectively in irrigation water, there are negative effects on the equatorial diameter of the bulb (DE), length, weight of the leaf, and weight of the bulb. Besides, the transference and bioaccumulation factors range from 0.02 to 0.22 and from 2.15 to 7.81, respectively, suggesting that the plant has the ability to accumulate As but exhibits a low translocation ability of As from the root to aerial organs. Besides, it is found for central concentrations of As and phosphorous (450 μg L-1 and 0.30 mg L-1, respectively) in irrigation water, a greater production occurs in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH) as a response to the stress generated by As.

Consumption of foods contaminated with heavy metals and their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) using GAM software (cohort study)

Introduction

Heavy metals can enter the environment and food through industrial activities, acid rain, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage. A large amount of these metals is dangerous because they tend to bio accumulate. A concern with these metals is the long-term, low-dose exposure seen in the general population. HMs can cause disorders in the cardiovascular system through various mechanisms such as the production of free radicals, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress.

Material and method

Food items measured in the present study included rice, bread, and vegetables. 210 participants (105 controls and 105 patients) were randomly selected for this study. The demographic information of the subjects was obtained from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Center. The relationship between heavy metals in food and cardiovascular diseases is investigated by The Generalized Additive Model (GAM).

Result

The results of the present study showed that when urine Cd was smoothed based on rice Cd, there was a significant correlation between urine Cd and Cd consumed in vegetables and rice. The GAM coefficient for urinary Cd excreted in case-control groups and Cd consumed in vegetables were 479.79(SE: 6.49-73.87) and 818.56(SE: 11.96-68.43), respectively, and for rice consumed, it was 0.03(SE: 0.015-2.103) and 0.04(SE: 0.017-2.338), respectively. The GAM coefficient for As consumption in vegetables and As in urine of case and control groups was 1.61 (SE: 9.48-0.16) and 22.36 (SE: 13.60-1.64), respectively. The same coefficient for rice consumption in case and control groups was 4.5 (SE: 0.62-7.22) and 10.48 (SE: 1.46-7.16), respectively. There was a very strong and significant correlation between the Sr in the urine of both groups and the Sr in the food consumed, so that the urinary Sr in the control group is excreted more than in the cardiovascular group.

Conclusion

GAM analysis indicates that As in vegetable and rice is more than the standard limitation value. Also, Sr and Cd in vegetables, rice, and bread were more than the standard limitation value. According to the GAM model As had a significant value in rice and vegetables indicating that As is more than the standard limitation value, therefore, it is associated with CVD.

Broccoli Cultivated with Deep Sea Water Mineral Fertilizer Enhances Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of AOM/DSS-Induced Colorectal Cancer in C57BL/6N Mice

This study aimed to determine the alleviating effect of broccoli grown with deep sea water mineral (DSWM) fertilizer extracted from deep sea water on the development of colorectal cancer in C57BL/6N mice treated with AOM/DSS. Naturaldream Fertilizer Broccoli (NFB) cultured with deep sea water minerals (DSWM) showed a higher antioxidant effect and mineral content. In addition, orally administered NFB, showed a level of recovery in the colon and spleen tissues of mice compared with those in normal mice through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Orally administered NFB showed the inhibition of the expression of inflammatory cytokine factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, IFN-γ, and IL-12 while increasing the expression of IL-10. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB in the liver tissue was inhibited, and that of inflammatory enzymes, such as COX-2 and iNOS, was reduced. In the colon tissue, the expression of p53 and p21 associated with cell cycle arrest increased, and that of Bcl-2 associated with apoptosis decreased. Additionally, the expression of Bax, Bad, Bim, Bak, caspase 9, and caspase 3 increased, indicating enhanced activation of apoptosis-related factors. These results demonstrate that oral administration of broccoli cultivated using DSWM significantly restores spleen and colon tissues and simultaneously inhibits the NF-κB pathway while significantly decreasing cytokine expression. Moreover, by inducing cell cycle arrest and activating cell apoptosis, they also suggest alleviating AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer symptoms in C57BL/6N mice.

Nano-Restoration for Sustaining Soil Fertility: A Pictorial and Diagrammatic Review Article

Soil is a real treasure that humans cannot live without. Therefore, it is very important to sustain and conserve soils to guarantee food, fiber, fuel, and other human necessities. Healthy or high-quality soils that include adequate fertility, diverse ecosystems, and good physical properties are important to allow soil to produce healthy food in support of human health. When a soil suffers from degradation, the soil’s productivity decreases. Soil restoration refers to the reversal of degradational processes. This study is a pictorial review on the nano-restoration of soil to return its fertility. Restoring soil fertility for zero hunger and restoration of degraded soils are also discussed. Sustainable production of nanoparticles using plants and microbes is part of the process of soil nano-restoration. The nexus of nanoparticle–plant–microbe (NPM) is a crucial issue for soil fertility. This nexus itself has several internal interactions or relationships, which control the bioavailability of nutrients, agrochemicals, or pollutants for cultivated plants. The NPM nexus is also controlled by many factors that are related to soil fertility and its restoration. This is the first photographic review on nano-restoration to return and sustain soil fertility. However, several additional open questions need to be answered and will be discussed in this work.