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Seeds of domesticated Vicia (vetch) species (family Fabaceae-Faboideae) are produced and consumed worldwide for their nutritional value. Seed accessions belonging to 16 different species of Vicia-both domesticated and wild taxa-were subjected to a chemotaxonomic study using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analyzed by chemometrics. A total of 89 metabolites were observed in the examined Vicia accessions. Seventy-eight out of the 89 detected metabolites were annotated. Metabolites quantified belonged to several classes, viz., flavonoids, procyanidins, prodelphinidins, anthocyanins, stilbenes, dihydrochalcones, phenolic acids, coumarins, alkaloids, jasmonates, fatty acids, terpenoids, and cyanogenics, with flavonoids and fatty acids amounting to the major classes. Flavonoids, fatty acids, and anthocyanins showed up as potential chemotaxonomic markers in Vicia species discrimination. Fatty acids were more enriched in Vicia faba specimens, while the abundance of flavonoids was the highest in Vicia parviflora. Anthocyanins allowed for discrimination between Vicia hirsuta and Vicia sepium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on employing UPLC-MS metabolomics to discern the diversity of metabolites at the intrageneric level among Vicia species.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) is a popular aromatic plant native to the Mediterranean basin and cultivated worldwide that is valued for the nutritional and health benefits of its fruits. Headspace solid-phase microextraction of 12 fennel accessions of cultivated (F. vulgare subsp. vulgare) and wild forms (F. vulgare subsp. piperitum) of different origins was carried out for assessing their volatile distribution. Fifty-four volatiles were identified, with ethers amounting for the major class at ca. 52-99% attributed to the abundance of (E)-anethole and estragole. Several subsp. vulgare accessions proved to be excellent sources of the chief aroma (E)-anethole (95.9-98.4%), whereas high levels of estragole at ca. 72% were observed in subsp. piperitum from Minia and Khartoum and must be considered in the safety assessment of fennel. Other volatile classes were detected including ketones, esters, aldehydes, alcohols, and hydrocarbons (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes). Fenchone exceeded 15% of the total volatiles in some fennel specimens, linked to a conspicuous bitter aftertaste. The members of subsp. piperitum were more enriched in monoterpene hydrocarbons with sabinene found exclusively in these, while subsp. vulgare comprised a higher content of ethers. Principle component analysis determined isoterpinolene as a special component in subsp. piperitum. In all specimens from the same group, estragole was the most distinguished volatile compound according to the findings from orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The highest estimated estragole levels were detected in subsp. piperitum from Minia at 89.8 mg/g. This comparative study provides the first comprehensive insight into volatile profiling of 12 fennel fruit varieties.

Fabaceae is well-known for its seed nutritious and bioactive composition as exemplified by Lupinus and Lens. Developing efficient analytical approaches for profiling their bioactive matrix is a prerequisite to provide proof for their health benefits or nutritive traits. Eight Lupinus and Lens seed accessions were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS)-based metabolomic study, which identified 66 metabolites, viz. flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, phenolics, fatty acids and sphingolipids. Chemometric tools were explored to assess heterogeneity across the two genera leading to elucidation of the species-most enriched and differential metabolites. The two dark-colored lentil cultivars are identified as the richest source of functional foods with presumed therapeutic benefits; however, Lupinus hispanicus was proved to be the most nutritive accession. To our knowledge, this study provides the first UPLC-MS-based comparative metabolite profiling of Lupinus and Lens seeds. This platform was also able to discern metabolites diversity at the intraspecific level among Lupinus species and Lens cultivars.

International audience; Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) is a common Mediterranean species traditionally used as condiment and healing herb. Its perianth dimorphism has been known since 1591. In all modern accessions examined to date, a single allele of the NdAP3-3 gene characterized by a MITE insertion has been found to be responsible for the mutant morph, lacking a corolla. Based on herbarium collections, we aimed at (i) reconstructing the evolution of the worldwide distribution area of both morphs of N. damascena, and (ii) assessing the diversity in the molecular origin of the mutant allele.We compiled a database of more than 3000 collections of N. damascena across four centuries. When possible, specimens were georeferenced, and distribution maps were built for the wild-type and mutant morphs. Additionally, we genotyped the NdAP3-3 locus, based on DNA extracted from herbarium specimens collected from various localities and at different times.We observe a consistently larger and denser distribution area of wild-type plants in Europe and North Africa compared with the mutant morph. The relative proportions of mutant and wild-type morph plants collected in the last couple of centuries are roughly similar. Interestingly in herbarium specimens, NdAP3-3 alleles without a MITE insertion can be found in plants exhibiting the mutant morph.The diachronic study of the distribution area of N. damascena and a literature survey showed that populations exhibiting the mutant phenotype have been present since the end of the 16th century, though not frequently, in the broad Mediterranean Basin. Our genotyping results indicate that the origin of the mutant morph may be multiple and suggest that the NdAP3-3 allele with the MITE insertion typically found in all modern accessions to date, is only a sample of the variability susceptible to disrupt petal formation and development in Nigella damascena.

This paper starts from theoretical and methodical considerations about the role of archaeobotanical finds in culinary archaeology, emphasizing the importance of processed cereal preparations as the “missing link” between crop and consumption. These considerations are exemplified by the discussion of abundant new archaeobotanical data from the Late Bronze Age copper mining site of Prigglitz-Gasteil, situated at the easternmost fringe of the Alps. At this site, copper ore mining in opencast mines took place from the 11thuntil the 9thcentury BCE (late Urnfield Culture), as well as copper processing (beneficiation, smelting, refining, casting) on artificial terrain terraces. During archaeological excavations from 2010 to 2014, two areas of the site were investigated and sampled for archaeobotanical finds and micro-debris in a high-resolution approach. This paper aims at 1) analysing the food plant spectrum at the mining settlement of Prigglitz-Gasteil basing on charred plant macroremains, 2) investigating producer/consumer aspects of Prigglitz-Gasteil in comparison to the Bronze Age metallurgical sites of Kiechlberg, Klinglberg, and Mauken, and 3) reconstructing the miners’ and metallurgists’ diets.Our analyses demonstrate that the plant-based diet of the investigated mining communities reflects the general regional and chronological trends rather than particular preferences of the miners or metallurgists. The lack of chaff, combined with a high occurrence of processed food, suggests that the miners at Prigglitz-Gasteil were supplied from outside with ready-to-cook and processed grain, either from adjacent communities or from a larger distance. This consumer character is in accordance with observation from previously analysed metallurgical sites. Interestingly, the components observed in charred cereal products (barley,Hordeum vulgare, and foxtail millet,Setaria italica) contrast with the dominant crop taxa (broomcorn millet,Panicum miliaceum, foxtail millet, and lentil,Lens culinaris). Foraging of fruits and nuts also significantly contributed to the daily diet.

Nigella sativa is a crop grown worldwide for its seeds oil production, nutritive value and health benefits. Despite extensive studies on Nigella seed non-volatile metabolites, much less is known regarding volatiles composition within that genus. To gain insight into Nigella species aroma, 34 volatile constituents from 12 Nigella accessions were profiled using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to mass spectrometry. Aromatics amounted for the major volatile class among N. sativa accessions at ca. 99.8% with thymoquinone as a major component. Variation in thymoquinone levels were evident among N. sativa accessions and also recognized as potential marker for identifying N. sativa from its closely allied drugs. In contrast, sesquiterpenes dominated N. arvensis, N. damascena, N. nigellastrum and N. orientalis volatile blends. Compared to N. sativa fresh seeds, roasted seeds and fixed oil preparation were both found less enriched in thymoquinone and more dominated by its immediate precursor p-cymene.

Despite their favourable nutritional, agricultural and ecological traits, Lathyrus species are among the under-recognized legume crops meriting further exploitation as nutrient-rich seeds. Holistic chemical characterization of nutrients/anti-nutrients in this genus is an important prerequisite to select high quality seeds for breeding programs. Herein, the chemical composition of 10 Lathyrus species was assessed via GC/MS-based metabolomics. Seventy-nine metabolites were identified comprising fatty acids, sugars, organic acids, and amino acids. Richest in amino-acids, L. annuus appeared the most suited for nutritional use. Furthermore, taxa enriched with fatty acids and sugars (L. pannonicus, L. annuus and L. odoratus) also show high potential as food or fodder. The richness of organic acids in L. sativus and L. tingitanus can override the anti-nutritive effect of phytic acid. Comparison to extant phylogenetic studies of the genus illustrates to what extent infrageneric classification is also reflected by the chemical variation observable via metabolomics, which has not been done before: Segregate sectional clustering among accessions was demonstrated along with several relationships at both infrasectional (e.g. L. sylvestris and L. latifolius) and interspecific level (e.g. L. venetus and L. niger) using multivariate data analysis.

Trigonella foenum-graecum is a plant of considerable value for its nutritive composition as well as medicinal effects. This study aims to examine Trigonella seeds using a metabolome-based ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) in parallel to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with multivariate data analyses. The metabolomic differences of seeds derived from three Trigonella species, i.e., T. caerulea, T. corniculata, and T. foenum-graecum, were assessed. Under specified conditions, we were able to identify 93 metabolites including 5 peptides, 2 phenolic acids, 22 C/O-flavonoid conjugates, 26 saponins, and 9 fatty acids using UPLC-MS. Several novel dipeptides, saponins, and flavonoids were found in Trigonella herein for the first time. Samples were classified via unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) followed by supervised orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). A distinct separation among the investigated Trigonella species was revealed, with T. foenum-graecum samples found most enriched in apigenin-C-glycosides, viz. vicenins 1/3 and 2, compared to the other two species. In contrast to UPLC-MS, GC-MS was less efficient to classify specimens, with differences among specimens mostly attributed to fatty acyl esters. GC-MS analysis of Trigonella seed extracts led to the identification of 91 metabolites belonging mostly to fatty acyl esters, free fatty acids followed by organic acids, sugars, and amino acids. This study presents the first report on primary and secondary metabolite compositional differences among Trigonella seeds via a metabolomics approach and reveals that, among the species examined, the official T. foenum-graecum presents a better source of Trigonella secondary bioactive metabolites.

The Iceman site is unique in the bryology of the Quaternary. Only 21 bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) grow now in the immediate vicinity of the 5,300 year old Iceman discovery site at 3,210m above sea level in the Ötztal Alps, Italy. By contrast 75 or more species including at least ten liverworts were recovered as subfossils frozen in, on and around the Iceman from before, at and after his time. About two thirds of the species grow in the nival zone (above 3,000m above sea level) now while about one third do not. A large part of this third can be explained by the Iceman having both deliberately and inadvertently carried bryophytes during his last, fatal journey. Multivariate analyses (PCA, RDA) provide a variety of explanations for the arrivals of the bryophytes in the rocky hollow where the mummy was discovered. This is well into the nival zone of perennial snow and ice with a very sparse, non-woody flora and very low vegetation cover. Apart from the crucial anthropochory (extra-local plants), both hydrochory (local species) and zoochory (by wild game such as ibex of both local and extra-local species) have been important. Anemochory of mainly local species was of lesser importance and of extra-local species probably of little or no importance. The mosses Neckera complanata and several other ecologically similar species as well as a species of Sphagnum (bogmoss) strongly support the claim that the Iceman, took northwards up Schnalstal, South Tyrol, as the route of the last journey. A different species of bogmoss, taken from his colon is another indication the Iceman's presence at low altitude south of Schnalstal during his last hours when he was first high up, low down and finally at over 3,000m.

Lens culinaris and several Lupinus species are two legumes regarded as potential protein resources aside from their richness in phytochemicals. Consequently, characterization of their metabolite composition seems warranted to be considered as a sustainable commercial functional food. This study presents a discriminatory holistic approach for metabolite profiling in accessions of four lentil cultivars and four Lupinus species via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A total of 107 metabolites were identified, encompassing organic and amino acids, sugars, and sterols, along with antinutrients, viz., alkaloids and sugar phosphates. Among the examined specimens, four nutritionally valuable accessions ought to be prioritized for future breeding to include Lupinus hispanicus, enriched in organic ( ca. 11.7%) and amino acids ( ca. 5%), and Lupinus angustifolius, rich in sucrose ( ca. 40%), along with two dark-colored lentil cultivars 'verte du Puy' and 'Black Beluga' enriched in peptides. Antinutrient chemicals were observed in Lupinus polyphyllus, owing to its high alkaloid content. Several species-specific markers were also revealed using multivariate data analyses.

Plant foods are closely connected to cultural, social and economic aspects of human societies, both past and present. Food-preparation techniques and the etiquette of consumption involve complex interactions of natural resources and human cultures. During European prehistory, these changes included the shift to sedentism, the cultivation and domestication of plants, food storage, the production and exchange of alcoholic beverages and luxury foodstuffs, and the continuous adaptation of established culinary practices to newcomers in fields and gardens.

An interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological, historical, and ethnological data is used in the attempt to draw a general image of the role of bladdernut (Staphylea pinnata) in past societies. The purposes encountered in this literature study extend from nutritional and medicinal uses to particular ritual/religious aspects, incorporating apotropaic and sympathetic magic, the use in grave goods, and the role of bladdernut in rosaries. In the two latter purposes, the ‘cut nose’ aspect of the seeds is suggested to be an important symbolic factor.Research into the past cultural dimensions of plants is often restricted to plants with important uses, cultivated for millennia and ever sought after, and of fundamental meaning to human subsistence and economy. This is definitely true for the main cultivated crops of the Old World, and for plants regarded essential for other (e.g. medical) reasons. Bladdernut is definitely not one of these ‘great’ useful plants. Still, this shrub has had a curious ...

A comprehensive morphological and anatomical analysis was carried out on seeds of all 15 species currently recognized in the genus Nigella s.l. (including Komaroffia and Garidella). In addition, a selection of six infraspecific taxa was examined. Using testa thin sections, morphometry, and SEM imaging, seed coat characters proved to be a highly diagnostic and powerful tool in species identification. A dichotomous identification key is presented along with seed descriptions, measurements and anatomical details, LM photos, and SEM micrographs. Analyses using maximum parsimony and character mapping onto a DNA-based phylogeny suggest that seed characters will be useful for ongoing phylogenetic studies in the genus. The importance of properly identifying Nigella seeds is highlighted for applied use in archaeobotany and pharmacognosy.

After the beginning of metal processing at the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, further knowledge of ore mining and smelting had spread from the Near East to central Europe. In the copper ore deposits of Schwaz, in the central part of the Alps, the oldest traces of copper mining derive from the early to middle Bronze Ages. Investigation of a middle to late Bronze Age (1410–920 cal B.C.) slag-washing site in the area revealed a carbonised seed of Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) (love-in-a-mist) together with individual other food plants. The plant remains had become incorporated into the slag sediments by chance and had been preserved in an excellent state due to toxic copper salts contained in the soil. Nigella damascena, like N. sativa (black cumin), is traditionally used as a condiment and healing herb in southern Europe and the Near East, but has never grown in the wild in central Europe. Until now, there has been no evidence of prehistoric large-scale cultivation of N. damascena in central Europe. This leads to two possible conclusions: the find may either originate from an exchange of goods with the cultures in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, or indicate an introduction of the plant by an immigrant population from that area. Implicating the latter alternative together with the archaeological context of the ore processing site suggests that Nigella damascena had been introduced to the Alps by foreign miners in the course of ore exploitation during the middle to late Bronze Age.