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The use of nanoscale nutrients in agriculture to improve crop productivity has grown in recent years. However, the bioefficacy, safety, and environmental toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) are not fully understood. Herein, we used onion bulb extract to synthesize manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs). X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used for the structural and morphological characterization of synthesized MnO-NPs. The MnO-NPs were oval shape crystalline nanoparticles of Mn2O3 with sizes 22–39 nm. In further studies, we assessed the comparative toxicity of seed priming with MnO-NPs and its bulk counterparts (KMnO4 and Mn2O3), which showed seed priming with MnO-NPs had comparatively less phytotoxicity. Investigating the effect of seed priming with different concentrations of MnO-NPs on the hormonal, phenolic acid, chlorophyll, and antioxidant profiles of watermelon seedlings showed that treatment with 20 mg·L−1 MnO-NPs altered the chlorophyll and antioxidant profiles of seedlings. At ≤40 mg·L−1, MnO-NPs had a remarkable effect on the phenolic acid and phytohormone profiles of the watermelon seedlings. The physiological outcomes of the MnO-NP seed priming in watermelon were genotype-specific and concentration-dependent. In conclusion, the MnO-NPs were safer than their bulk counterparts and could increase crop productivity.

The sensory and functional quality attributes of muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.), such as flavor, sweetness, color, and texture, determine consumer preferences. Genetic makeup primarily regulates these traits, but environmental factors such as soil type, irrigation, and temperature affects yields and quality. Here, we investigated variation in quality traits of diverse melon cultigens (advanced breeding lines or cultigen) grown in multiple locations (California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina) across the United States. Mesocarp sugar and carotenoid concentrations varied significantly as a function of production location and cultigen. Multivariate analyses revealed significant cultigen, location, and interactive effects on fruit quality. The highest sugar content was found in a honeydew melon cultigen (HD-150; 83.1 ± 2.36 mg/g) grown in Georgia and the Western Shipper type cantaloupe (F-39; 70.8 ± 2.85 mg/g) grown in North Carolina compared to the other cultigens. The Tuscan type (Da Vinci) grown in Texas and Georgia had the highest β-carotene concentrations (29.1 ± 3.37 and 33.6 ± 1.73 µg/g, respectively) compared to the other cultigens. These observations, showing that cultivar and location significantly influenced melon phytochemical composition, will help melon breeding programs improve the sensory and functional qualities of melons and identify suitable cultivars for specific environments to maximize fruit quality.

Additional file 2: Figure S2. (a) control and (b) Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. niveum 0 (FON 0) inoculated Principal Component Analysis (PCA) scores plot of watermelon varieties, PI-296341 (PI), Sugar Baby (SB), Calhoun Grey (CA) and Charleston Grey (CH) on the 16th day of post-infection.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. The pathogenicity test of Premont, TX Fusarium oxysporum F. sp. niveum (FON) isolate on differential watermelon varieties such as PI-296341, Sugar Baby, Calhoun Grey and Charleston Grey. Based on results of percentage of seedlings showing symptoms of fusarium wilt, Sugar Baby was identified as susceptible variety, and remaining three varieties such as PI-296341, Calhoun Grey and Charleston Grey confirmed as resistant to FON-0.

Fruits and vegetables have long been studied for their potential roles in reducing certain cancer risks. Herein, lyophilized BetaSweet carrots were extracted with hexane, methanol, and water and their chemical constituents were identified by UPLC-QTOF-HR-MS. Methanol extracts exhibited significantly higher radical scavenging activity compared with hexane and water extracts. Hexane extracts showed significantly higher (88.4%) inhibition of breast cancer cells proliferation after 24 h at 100 µg/mL, followed by water and methanol extracts, likely due to the presence of polyacetylenes. Cells treated with hexane extracts showed the highest cytochrome-c release, indicating induction of apoptosis, as supported by DNA fragmentation and Bax2 and bcl2 expression and confirmed by staining with propidium iodide and acridine orange. The methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and was purified to obtain cyanidin-3-2″-xylosyl-6″-(ferulosyl-glucosyl)-galactoside. In conclusion, BetaSweet carrots exhibits multiple health benefits to use as functional foods.

Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family, and kale leaves have large amounts of dietary fiber and polyphenolics. Dietary fiber can bind bile acids, thus potentially decreasing cholesterol levels; however, whether the polyphenols from kale contribute to in vitro bile acid binding capacity remains unclear. In the present study, kale was extracted with hexane, acetone, and MeOH : water and the dried extracts, as well as the fiber-rich residue, were tested for their bile acid binding capacity. The fiber-rich residue bound total bile acids in amounts equivalent to that bound by raw kale. The lyophilized acetone extract bound significantly more glycochenodeoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate and less of other bile acids. To test whether bile acid binding enhanced the bioaccessibility of polyphenolic compounds from kale, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify chemical constituents and measure their bioaccessibility in an in vitro digestion reaction. This identified 36 phenolic compounds in kale, including 18 kaempferol derivatives, 13 quercetin derivatives, 4 sinapoyl derivatives, and one caffeoylquinic acid. The bioaccessibility of these phenolics was significantly higher (69.4%) in digestions with bile acids. Moreover, bile acids enhanced the bioaccessibility of quercetin by 25 times: only 2.7% of quercetin derivatives were bioaccessible in the digestion without bile acids, but with bile acids, their accessibility increased to 69.5%. Bile acids increased the bioaccessibility of kaempferol from 37.7% to 69.2%. The extractability and biostability of total phenolics in the digested residue increased 1.8 fold in the digestions with bile acids. These results demonstrated the potential use of kale to improve human health.

Nitrate and polyphenols from the diet may enhance the production and bioavailability of nitric oxide, a radical signaling molecule critical for cardiovascular health. Understanding the stability of these bioactives in beetroot and arugula juices is important for their functions. In this study, the stability of nitrate and phenolics in beetroot and arugula juices was measured for 32 days at different temperatures (25, 4, -20, and -80 °C). The levels of nitrate were measured by reversed-phase HPLC and initial levels were found to be 4965.34 ± 72.69 μg/mL for beetroot and 6310.20 ± 24.79 μg/mL for arugula. Interestingly, nitrate degradation started within 24 hr at 25 °C and after 4 days at 4 °C. At -20 °C and -80 °C, nitrate levels remained stable for one month. Total phenolics and free radical scavenging activity varied significantly during storage conditions. Beetroot juice at 25 °C, significant decrease in total phenolics and antioxidant activity was observed, whereas at 4, -20 and -80 °C, the levels remained relatively stable. By contrast, arugula juice at 25 and 4 °C, an increase in total phenolics and antioxidant activity were observed after one month. Furthermore, UPLC-HR-QTOF-MS analysis demonstrated that flavonoid glucosides were converted to their aglycones and lower phenolics, resulting in higher total phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage. In conclusion, beetroot and arugula juices required frozen conditions for long-term storage to prevent degradation of nitrate and to maintain their nutritional value.Beetroot and arugula juices have health-beneficial compounds such as nitrate and phenolics. Understanding the proper storage conditions can allow consumers to make informed choices that can help fresh juices to maintain their health promoting properties.

Background Several cell culture and animal studies demonstrated that citrus bioactive compounds have protective effects against certain types of cancer. Among several classes of citrus bioactive compounds, limonoids were reported to prevent different types of cancer. Furthermore, the structures of citrus limonoids were reported to influence the activity of phase II detoxifying enzymes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate how variations in the structures of citrus limonoids (namely nomilin, deacetyl nomilin, and isoobacunoic acid) and a mixture of limonoids would influence phase II enzyme activity in excised tissues from a mouse model. Methods In the current study, defatted sour orange seed powder was extracted with ethyl acetate and subjected to silica gel chromatography. The HPLC, NMR and mass spectra were used to elucidate the purity and structure of compounds. Female A/J mice were treated with three limonoids and a mixture in order to evaluate their effect on phase II enzymes in four different tissues. Assays for glutathione S-transferase and NAD(P)H: quinone reductase (QR) were used to evaluate induction of phase II enzymatic activity. Results The highest induction of GST against 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was observed in stomach (whole), 58% by nomilin, followed by 25% isoobacunoic acid and 19% deacetyl nomilin. Deacetyl nomilin in intestine (small) as well as liver significantly reduced GST activity against CDNB. Additionally isoobacunoic acid and the limonoid mixture in liver demonstrated a significant reduction of GST activity against CDNB. Nomilin significantly induced GST activity against 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), intestine (280%) and stomach (75%) while deacetyl nomilin showed significant induction only in intestine (73%). Induction of GST activity was also observed in intestine (93%) and stomach (45%) treated with the limonoid mixture. Finally, a significant induction of NAD(P)H: quinone reductase (QR) activity was observed by the limonoid mixture in stomach (200%). In addition, the deacetyl nomilin treatment group displayed an increase in QR activity in liver (183%) and intestine (22%). Conclusion The results of the present study suggests that, dietary intake of citrus limonoids may provide a protective effect against the onset of various cancers by inducing the activity of certain phase II detoxifying enzymes in specific organs.