Search

Abstract Background Brassicas (Brassicaceae) are recognized as excellent sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Among these, wild turnip (Brassica rapa L.), holds significant promising nutritional properties owed to its abundant glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. To enhance its potential values, the application of elicitors is crucial and good strategy prompting an enrichment in the concentration of phytochemicals, as well established in other relevant Brassicas, such as broccoli. While the responses triggered by certain elicitors such as salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, or chitosan are widely documented, little is known about the impact of electrolyzed water, an economically viable elicitor. Through elicitation strategies, the aim of this work was to unravel insights into enhancing the phytochemical content of wild turnip sprouts for potential use as healthy food, comparing with well-studied broccoli as control of the experiments. Results Our findings revealed that wild turnip exhibited a notable higher glucosinolate (GSL) contents (487–712 mg 100 g−1 D.W.), than in broccoli sprouts. Furthermore, the use of electrolyzed water (2 vol.) boosted the accumulation of glucosinolates with significant increase up to twofolds the content. Specifically, treatments with salicylic acid (250 μM) and electrolyzed water (2 vol.) favored the significant increase of mainly aliphatic GSL (progoitrin, PRO; gluconapin, GNA; glucobrassicin, GBN). On the other hand, natural antioxidants such as of the characteristic acylated cyanidins present in wild turnip sprouts were not affected by the elicitor treatments, indicative of higher tolerance to oxidative stress in wild turnip. Conclusions These observations underlined the potential of using electrolyzed water in wild turnips as elicitor for GSL-enriched food ingredients. Further studies will be necessary to align with the broader goal of evaluating abiotic and biotic factors affecting the phytochemical composition in mature organs not only in germinating seeds and sprouts, for agricultural performance for quality and healthy foods purposes. Graphical Abstract

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are a group of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, synthesized primarily in members of the Brassicaceae family, that play an important role in food flavor, plant antimicrobial activity, resistance to insect attack, stress tolerance, and human anti-cancer effects. As a sulfur-containing compound, glutathione has a strong connection with GSLs biosynthesis as a sulfur donor or redox system, and exists in reduced (glutathione; GSH) and oxidized (glutathione disulfide; GSSG) forms. However, the mechanism of GSH regulating GSLs biosynthesis remainds unclear. Hence, the exogenous therapy to pakchoi under normal growth condition and sulfur deficiency condition were conducted in this work to explore the relevant mechanism. The results showed that exogenous application of buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, decreased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis-related genes and transcription factors, as well as sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition. Application of exogenous GSH inhibited the expression of GSLs synthesis- and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal condition, while the GSLs biosynthesis and the sulfur assimilation pathway were activated by exogenous application of GSH when the content of GSH in vivo of plants decreased owing to sulfur deficiency. Moreover, exogenous application of GSSG increased the transcript levels of GSLs synthesis- and sulfur assimilation-related genes under the normal growth condition and under sulfur deficiency. The present work provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of GSLs biosynthesis underlying glutathione regulation.

We previously found that feeding rats with broccoli or cauliflower leads to the formation of characteristic DNA adducts in the liver, intestine and various other tissues. We identified the critical substances in the plants as 1-methoxy-3-indolylmethyl (1-MIM) glucosinolate and its degradation product 1-MIM-OH. DNA adduct formation and the mutagenicity of 1-MIM-OH in cell models were drastically enhanced when human sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 was expressed. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of SULT1A1 in DNA adduct formation by 1-MIM-OH in mouse tissues in vivo. Furthermore, we compared the endogenous mouse Sult1a1 and transgenic human SULT1A1 in the activation of 1-MIM-OH using genetically modified mouse strains. We orally treated male wild-type (wt) and Sult1a1-knockout (ko) mice, as well as corresponding lines carrying the human SULT1A1-SULT1A2 gene cluster (tg and ko-tg), with 1-MIM-OH. N2-(1-MIM)-dG and N6-(1-MIM)-dA adducts in DNA were analysed using isotope-dilution UPLC-MS/MS. In the liver, caecum and colon adducts were abundant in mice expressing mouse and/or human SULT1A1, but were drastically reduced in ko mice (1.2–10.6% of wt). In the kidney and small intestine, adduct levels were high in mice carrying human SULT1A1-SULT1A2 genes, but low in wt and ko mice (1.8–6.3% of tg-ko). In bone marrow, adduct levels were very low, independently of the SULT1A1 status. In the stomach, they were high in all four lines. Thus, adduct formation was primarily controlled by SULT1A1 in five out of seven tissues studied, with a strong impact of differences in the tissue distribution of mouse and human SULT1A1. The behaviour of 1-MIM-OH in these models (levels and tissue distribution of DNA adducts; impact of SULTs) was similar to that of methyleugenol, classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans". Thus, there is a need to test 1-MIM-OH for carcinogenicity in animal models and to study its adduct formation in humans consuming brassicaceous foodstuff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐native annual grasses have invaded western rangelands in the United States, and novel approaches are needed to supplement existing management strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate biofumigation, the use of Brassicaceae products to suppress weeds, as a control for two non‐native annual grasses (cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum and ventenata, Ventenata dubia) and its effects on two dominant native perennial grasses (bluebunch wheatgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata and Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis). We tested the effect of the biofumigant Brassica juncea (brown mustard), applied as seed meal and mulch, on germination metrics of the four grass species in Petri dishes. Germination metrics included emergence and viability, time to cotyledon and radicle emergence and their lengths at 14 days after sowing. Impacts on emergence and viability were assessed using a binomial mixed effects model, while time to cotyledon and radicle emergence and lengths were assessed using linear mixed effects models. Seed meal reduced emergence and viability at lower application rates for V. dubia and F. idahoensis than the other two species. Mulch did not consistently reduce emergence or viability. P. spicata was the least inhibited by the biofumigants. When using seed meal, radicle emergence and length were inhibited in B. tectorum, V. dubia and F. idahoensis and cotyledon emergence and length were inhibited for all. The mulch did not impact these metrics consistently and may not be a viable management tool. The use of seed meal biofumigant to suppress undesired annual grasses in rangelands seems promising, but response is species‐specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work studies the composting effects on the chemical characteristics of bio‐oil produced by pyrolysis of sisal residue. Three systems were composted with sisal residue proportions to sisal fiber powder of 100:0, 90:10, and 75:25, respectively. The systems showed reductions of 33%–48% (extractive), 70%–80% (hemicellulose), and 80%–90% (cellulose) after composting. An increase in lignin content was observed in all systems. The pyrolysis of the composted systems was performed at 450°C and 550°C. At both temperatures, this process was selective in producing a large concentration of hydrocarbons (>160% increase), mainly alkanes and alkenes, reducing the concentrations of ketones, aldehydes, and phenolics (>50%) and eliminating esters, furans, and acetic acid to composted biomasses. The higher temperature favored aromatics and cyclic hydrocarbon production from the pyrolysis of composted samples. In addition to these results, composting helped reduce the oxygenated bio‐oil species by approximately 44%–75% at the lowest and ~69% at the highest temperatures. These results indicate that composted sisal residue can produce bio‐oils that are more suitable for biorefineries since they are rich in aliphatic hydrocarbons and non‐oxygenated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Microgreens grow best under light‐emitting diodes (LED), an artificial light source. In this study, LED lights (red, blue and far‐red) were tested on brassica microgreens to see if they induced an increase in bioactive compounds (glucosinolates and phenolics). In vitro digestion also measured bioavailable bioactive compounds in the intestinal phase. LED lights (red, blue and far‐red) were applied for 6 h in storage at 5 °C and 85% RH for 5 days on cabbage (Brassica oleracea), radish (Raphanus sativus) and rocket (Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav). Red light significantly enhanced ascorbic acid, total phenols, kaempferol and quercetin glycoside concentrations in all three Brassica microgreens and antioxidant activities. Exposure to red LED light increased 4‐methoxyglucobrassicin (cabbage), glucoraphenin (radish), glucoraphanin A and glucoerucin (rocket). Red light stress may have resulted in secondary metabolite production in immature plants. An in vitro digestion showed higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, glucosinolate components and antioxidants in the intestinal phase. Red LED light is recommended as a postharvest treatment for improving cabbage, rocket and radish bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) is a fast-growing and esculent plant with high nutritional and medicinal values. Traditionally, M. oleifera has been applied to treat anaemia, asthma, pain in joints, headaches, diarrhoea and so forth. Phytochemical studies have manifested that more than 300 components, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, alkaloids, lignans, glucosinolates, carotenoids, proteins, fats, minerals, and so on, are present in different parts of M. oleifera. Simultaneously, M. oleifera has exhibited extensive notable pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, etc. Consequently, on the one hand, this work aims to comprehensively and holistically review the nutritional components, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities on various parts of M. oleifera, as well as its applications in functional food products and medicines. On the other hand, this work also looks forward to the new prospects and the future developments in the research of M. oleifera, and thus provides valuable insights for the follow-up and in-depth studies of this multifunctional tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a global surge in interest surrounding novel foods, particularly sprouts, microgreens, and baby leaves, attributed to their rich content of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic derivatives, glucosinolates, and vitamins. This study delves into the impact of exogenously applied melatonin on novel foods derived from Brassica oleracea L. Two distinct cultivars of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck), namely Sicilian sprouting broccoli (Broccolo nero) and a commercial variety (Cavolo Broccolo Ramoso Calabrese), were compared across the sprouts, microgreens, and baby leaves stages, adhering to organic farming practices. Various doses of melatonin (0, 50, and 100 µM) were administered at each harvesting stage. Plantlets were collected at different growth stages and assessed for key morphometric traits, including the weight, hypocotyl length, and cotyledon dimensions during the sprouts stage. For microgreens, the number and dimensions of the true leaves were recorded, while for baby leaves, the stem length was additionally measured. The analysis of glucosinolates was carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The results revealed significant variations among the experimental factors considered. Melatonin application significantly influenced the morphometric parameters at different growth stages, exhibiting notable variations in the weight, hypocotyl length, cotyledon width, and leaf width. The GLSs profile exhibited significant variations between the different growth stages and genotypes studied. Particularly noteworthy was the tendency for the GLSs content to be higher during the sprouts stage compared to the baby leaves stage, ranging from 24.07 to 4.61 µmol g−1 d.w. from sprouts to baby leaves, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants store chemical defenses that act as toxins against herbivores, such as toxic isothiocyanates (ITCs) in Brassica plants, hydrolyzed from glucosinolate (GLS) precursors. The fitness of herbivorous larvae can be strongly affected by these toxins, causing immature death. We modeled this phenomenon using a set of ordinary differential equations and established a direct relationship between feeding, toxin exposure, and the net energy of a larva, where the fitness of an organism is proportional to its net energy according to optimal foraging theory. Optimal foraging theory is widely used in ecology to model the feeding and searching behavior of organisms. Although feeding provides energy gain, plant toxins and foraging cause energy loss for the larvae. Our equations explain that toxin exposure and foraging can sharply reduce larval net energy to zero at an instar. Since herbivory needs energy, the only choice left for a larva is to stop feeding at that time point. If that is significantly earlier than the end of the last instar stage, the larva dies without food. Thus, we show that plant toxins can cause immature death in larvae from the perspective of optimal foraging theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Brassicas contain glucosinolates (GSLs), which are converted into different isothiocyanates (ITCs) that possess biocidal activity. These different ITCs result in a range of toxicities to various target species. Laboratory assays were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of stubby root nematodes (SRN), Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus spp., to three pure, commercially available ITCs, i.e. , 2-phenylethyl (PEITC), allyl (AITC) and sulforaphane (SITC) at different concentrations (1.625, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 μ g ml−1). The effect on nematode mobility was assessed after 24, 48 and 72 h. Mortality of SRN was assessed after 48 h incubation of the nematodes in distilled water post ITC treatment. Mortality for all ITCs at all tested concentrations was significantly higher than the controls, distilled water and 1% DMSO. Concentration and type of ITC had a significant effect on SRN mobility and mortality, whilst increase in exposure time did not significantly increase the immobility of SRN. The average 24 h ED50 (dose that resulted in 50% immobility) for SRN were 7, 5 and 44 μ g ml−1, and the average LD50 (dose that resulted in 50% mortality) after 48 h recovery in distilled water was 7, 11 and 24.3 μ g ml−1 for PEITC, AITC and SITC, respectively. SITC was significantly less potent compared to PEITC and AITC, which had LD50 values that were four times and two times lower, respectively. These results indicate the potential use of brassica associated with the tested ITC in the process of biofumigation for SRN suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur (S) is an essential mineral nutrient for plant growth and development; it is important for primary and specialized plant metabolites that are crucial for biotic and abiotic interactions. Foliar S content varies up to 6-fold under a controlled environment, suggesting an adaptive value under certain natural environmental conditions. However, a major quantitative regulator of S content in Arabidopsis thaliana has not been identified yet, pointing to the existence of either additional genetic factors controlling sulfate/S content or of many minor quantitative regulators. Here, we use overlapping information of two separate ionomics studies to select groups of accessions with low, mid, and high foliar S content. We quantify series of metabolites, including anions (sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate), thiols (cysteine and glutathione), and seven glucosinolates, gene expression of 20 genes, sulfate uptake, and three biotic traits. Our results suggest that S content is tightly connected with sulfate uptake, the concentration of sulfate and phosphate anions, and glucosinolate and glutathione synthesis. Additionally, our results indicate that the growth of pathogenic bacteria is enhanced in the A. thaliana accessions containing higher S in their leaves, suggesting a complex regulation between S homeostasis, primary and secondary metabolism, and biotic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plants possess myriad defenses against their herbivores, including constitutive and inducible chemical compounds and regrowth strategies known as tolerance. Recent studies have shown that plant tolerance and resistance are positively associated given they are co‐localized in the same molecular pathway, the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. However, given that both defensive strategies utilize carbon skeletons from a shared resource pool in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway there are likely costs in maintaining both resistance‐tolerance strategies. Here we investigate fitness costs in maintaining both strategies by utilizing a double knockout of cyp79B2 and cyp79B3, key enzymes in the biosynthetic process of indole glucosinolates, which convert tryptophan to indole‐3‐acetaldoxime (IAOx) and is further used to produce indole glucosinolates. These mutant plants are devoid of any indole glucosinolates thus reducing plant resistance. Results show that knocking out indole glucosinolate production and thus one of the resistance pathways leads to an approximate 94% increase in fitness compensation shifting the undercompensating wild‐type Columbia‐0 to an overcompensating genotype following damage. We discuss the potential mechanistic basis for the observed patterns.

Sulfur containing compounds including glucosinolates (GLS), sulforaphane (SFN) and S-methyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) have been proposed to be partly responsible for the beneficial health effects of cruciferous vegetables. As such, greater understanding of their measurements within foods is important to estimate intake in humans and to inform dietary intervention studies. Herein is described a simple and sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of 20 GLS, SFN and SMCSO by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Analytes were effectively retained and resolved on an Xbridge C18 column. Detection can be achieved using high resolution or unit resolution mass spectrometry; the latter making the method more applicable to large studies. Quantitative analysis using calibration standards was demonstrated for 10 GLS, SFN and SMCSO. A further 10 GLS were tentatively identified using high resolution mass spectrometry. The use of surrogate GLS standards was shown to be unreliable, with closely related GLS displaying significantly different ionisation efficiencies.

This work aimed to evaluate the growth of two species of microgreens (mizuna and pak choi), using agro-industrial compost as growing media in two different mixes versus one hundred percent peat, under two different LED illumination spectra (LED 1 and LED 2) in a 14 h photoperiod. The experiment was carried-out for two times. Biomass yield, glucosinolates, and phenolic compounds, and nitrate (NO3−) content were analysed in leaf tissues. In both species, the highest fresh and dry biomass production was in compost:peat (50:50%) and LED 2 (Blue/Red/Far Red). In general, compost had a greater influence on nitrate content than light, but in the microgreen pak choi, the anthocyanin content was inhibited by the compost treatment. In the other hand both LED illumination had a positive effect on mizuna for glucosinolates and anthocyanins, and LED 2 also showed a positive effect on pak choi for anthocyanin. Therefore, the use of agri-food compost: peat (50:50%) with LED 2 (blue/red) lighting treatment to obtain microgreens in indoor crops is a plausible technology that provides nutritionally and phytochemically rich crops.

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal with different types of rapeseed meal (RSM; Chinese 95-type (oil press model) rapeseed meal [C95RM], Chinese 200-type rapeseed meal [C200RM], cold pressed rapeseed cake [CPRC], Indian rapeseed meal [IRM] and Canadian rapeseed meal [CRM]) on growth, antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity and Aeromonas hydrophila infection tolerance in 990 fingering (average weight 12.77 ± 0.01 g) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A basal diet was prepared using fishmeal and soybean meal as the main protein sources, the other 10 diets were formulated with five types of RSM at 20% (C95RM20, C200RM20, CPRC20, IRM20, CRM20) or 35% (C95RM35, C200RM35, CPRC35, IRM35, CRM35) inclusion levels to replace iso-nitrogenous soybean meal. Regardless of the RSM source, dietary inclusion of 20% RSM significantly reduced the weight gain rate (WGR) and digestive enzymes activities (except C200RM20) of fish, but increased the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content (except CRM20). Fish fed with CPRC20 and IRM20 exhibited relatively higher plasma cortisol and MDA content, but lower content/activities of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in plasma, lysozyme (LZM) and complement 3 (C3) in serum, catalase (CAT) in liver, and respiratory burst activity (RBA) of head kidney macrophages. The intestinal and hepatic tissues fed with 20% RSM were damaged to some extent, with the CPRC20 and IRM20 groups being the most severely affected. Regardless of the RSM source, dietary inclusion of 35% RSM significantly decreased WGR and digestive enzymes activities, but significantly increased plasma BUN and MDA content. The fish fed with CPRC35 and IRM35 exhibited relatively higher plasma cortisol, MDA, serum triglyceride, BUN content, but lower content/activities of T3, T4, C3, and LZM in serum, CAT, peroxidase and GPx in plasma, CAT in liver, RBA and phagocytic activity of head kidney macrophage. The hepatic and intestinal tissues damage was the worst in the IRM35 group among the 35% RSM inclusion groups. These results indicate that including ≥20% RSM in the diet, regardless of the source, reduced the growth, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and survival to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rainbow trout.

Inflammatory diseases are strongly associated with global morbidity and mortality. Several mediators are involved in this process, including proinflammatory interleukins and cytokines produced by damaged tissues that, somehow, act as initiators of the autoreactive immune response. Bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods and byproducts have been largely considered active agents with the potential to treat or prevent inflammatory diseases, being a valuable alternative to traditional therapeutic agents used nowadays, which present several side effects. In this regard, the present research uncovers the anti-inflammatory activity of the bioaccessible fraction of broccoli stalks processed, by applying different conditions that render specific concentrations of bioactive sulforaphane (SFN). The raw materials' extracts exhibited significantly different contents of total glucosinolates (GSLs) that ranged between 3993.29 and 12,296.48 mg/kg dry weight (dw), with glucoraphanin as the most abundant one, followed by GI and GE. The indolic GSLs were represented by hydroxy-glucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, methoxy-glucobrassicin, and neo-glucobrassicin, with the two latter as the most abundant. Additionally, SFN and indole-3-carbinol were found in lower concentrations than the corresponding GSL precursors in the raw materials. When exploring the bioaccessibility of these organosulfur compounds, the GSL of all matrices remained at levels lower than the limit of detection, while SFN was the only breakdown product that remained stable and at quantifiable concentrations. The highest concentration of bioaccessible SFN was provided by the high-ITC materials (~4.00 mg/kg dw). The results retrieved on the cytotoxicity of the referred extracts evidenced that the range of supplementation of growth media tested (0.002–430.400 µg of organosulfur compounds/mL) did not display cytotoxic effects on Caco-2 cells. The obtained extracts were assessed based on their capacity to reduce the production of key proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, and TNF-α) by the intestinal epithelium. Most of the tested processing conditions provided plant material with significant anti-inflammatory activity and the absence of cytotoxic effects. These data confirm that SFN from broccoli stalks, processed to optimize the bioaccessible concentration of SFN, may be potential therapeutic leads to treat or prevent human intestinal inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic sulfur-containing compounds glucosinolates (GSLs) and the novel gasotransmitter H2S are known to have cardioprotective effects. This study investigated the antioxidant effects and H2S-releasing potential of three GSLs ((3E)-4-(methylsulfanyl)but-3-enyl GSL or glucoraphasatin, 4-hydroxybenzyl GSL or glucosinalbin, and (RS)-6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl GSL or glucohesperin) in rat cardiac cells. It was found that all three GSLs had no effect on cardiac cell viability but were able to protect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell death. NaHS, a H2S donor, also protected the cells from H2O2-stimulated oxidative stress and cell death. The GSLs alone or mixed with cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, H2O2, iron and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate, or mouse liver lysates did not induce H2S release. The addition of GSLs also did not alter endogenous H2S levels in cardiac cells. H2O2 significantly induced cysteine oxidation in the cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) protein and inhibited the H2S production rate. In conclusion, this study found that the three tested GSLs protect cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress and cell death but independently of H2S signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flea beetles of the genus Psylliodes have evolved specialized interactions with plant species belonging to several distantly related families, mainly Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, and Fagaceae. This diverse host use indicates that Psylliodes flea beetles are able to cope with different chemical defense metabolites, including glucosinolates, the characteristic defense metabolites of Brassicaceae. Here we investigated the evolution of host use and the emergence of a glucosinolate-specific detoxification mechanism in Psylliodes flea beetles. In phylogenetic analyses, Psylliodes species clustered into four major clades, three of which contained mainly species specialized on either Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, or Fagaceae. Most members of the fourth clade have broader host use, including Brassicaceae and Poaceae as major host plant families. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that Psylliodes flea beetles were initially associated with Brassicaceae and then either shifted to Solanaceae or Fagaceae, or expanded their host repertoire to Poaceae. Despite a putative ancestral association with Brassicaceae, we found evidence that the evolution of glucosinolate-specific detoxification enzymes coincides with the radiation of Psylliodes on Brassicaceae, suggesting that these are not required for using Brassicaceae as hosts but could improve the efficiency of host use by specialized Psylliodes species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonols are structurally and functionally diverse biomolecules involved in plant biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, pollen development, and inhibition of auxin transport. However, their effects on global gene expression and signaling pathways are unclear. To explore the roles of flavonol metabolites in signaling, we performed comparative transcriptome and targeted metabolite profiling of seedlings from the flavonol-deficient Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutant flavonol synthase1 (fls1) with and without exogenous supplementation of flavonol derivatives (kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin). RNA-seq results indicated that flavonols modulate various biological and metabolic pathways, with significant alterations in camalexin and aliphatic glucosinolate synthesis. Flavonols negatively regulated camalexin biosynthesis but appeared to promote the accumulation of aliphatic glucosinolates via transcription factor-mediated up-regulation of biosynthesis genes. Interestingly, upstream amino acid biosynthesis genes involved in methionine and tryptophan synthesis were altered under flavonol deficiency and exogenous supplementation. Quercetin treatment significantly up-regulated aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis genes compared with kaempferol and rutin. In addition, expression and metabolite analysis of the transparent testa7 mutant, which lacks hydroxylated flavonol derivatives, clarified the role of quercetin in the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway. This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which flavonols interfere with signaling pathways, their molecular targets, and the multiple biological activities of flavonols in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aliphatic glucosinolates are a large group of plant secondary metabolites characteristic of Brassicaceae , including the model plant Arabidopsis. The diverse and complex degradation products of aliphatic glucosinolates contribute to plant responses to herbivory, pathogen attack, and environmental stresses. Most of the biosynthesis genes in the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway have been cloned in Arabidopsis, and the research focus has recently shifted to the regulatory mechanisms controlling aliphatic glucosinolate accumulation. Up till now, more than 40 transcriptional regulators have been identified as regulating the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway, but many more novel regulators likely remain to be discovered based on research evidence over the past decade. In the current study, we took a systemic approach to functionally test 155 candidate transcription factors in Arabidopsis identified by yeast one-hybrid assay, and successfully validated at least 30 novel regulators that could significantly influence the accumulation of aliphatic glucosinolates in our experimental set-up. We also showed that the regulators of the aliphatic glucosinolate pathway have balanced positive and negative effects, and glucosinolate metabolism and plant development can be coordinated. Our work is the largest scale effort so far to validate transcriptional regulators of a plant secondary metabolism pathway, and provides new insights into how the highly diverse plant secondary metabolism is regulated at the transcriptional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassicaceae plants have the glucosinolate–myrosinase defense system, jointly active against herbivory. However, constitutive glucosinolate (GLS) defense is observed to occur at levels that do not deter all insects from feeding. That prompts the question of why Brassicaceae plants have not evolved a higher constitutive defense. The answer may lie in the contrasting relationship between plant defense and host plant preference of specialist and generalist herbivores. GLS content increases a plant's susceptibility to specialist insects. In contrast, generalists are deterred by the plant GLSs. Although GLSs can attract the natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) of these herbivores, enemies can reduce herbivore pressure to some extent only. So, plants can be overrun by specialists if GLS content is too high, whereas generalists can invade the plants if it is too low. Therefore, an optimal constitutive plant defense can minimize the overall herbivore pressure. To explain the optimal defense theoretically, we model the contrasting host selection behavior of insect herbivores and the emergence of their natural enemies by non‐autonomous ordinary differential equations, where the independent variable is the plant GLS concentration. From the model, we quantify the optimal amount of GLSs, which minimizes total herbivore (specialists and generalists) pressure. That quite successfully explains the evolution of constitutive defense in plants from the perspective of optimality theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are sulfur (S)-rich specialized metabolites present in Brassicales order plants. Our previous study found that GSL can function as a S source in Arabidopsis seedlings via its catabolism catalyzed by two β-glucosidases (BGLUs), BGLU28 and BGLU30. However, as GSL profiles in plants vary among growth stages and organs, the potential contribution of BGLU28/30-dependent GSL catabolism at the reproductive growth stage needs verification. Thus, in this study, we assessed growth, metabolic and transcriptional phenotypes of mature bglu28/30 double mutants grown under different S conditions. Our results showed that compared to wild-type plants grown under −S, mature bglu28/30 mutants displayed impaired growth and accumulated increased levels of GSL in their reproductive organs and rosette leaves of before-bolting plants. In contrast, the levels of primary S-containing metabolites, glutathione and cysteine decreased in their mature seeds. Furthermore, the transport of GSL from rosette leaves to the reproductive organs was stimulated in the bglu28/30 mutants under −S. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to other biological processes, such as ethylene response, defense response and plant response to heat, responded differentially to −S in the bglu28/30 mutants. Altogether, these findings broadened our understanding of the roles of BGLU28/30-dependent GSL catabolism in plant adaptation to nutrient stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates (GSLs), crucial secondary metabolites in cruciferous vegetables, hydrolyze upon consumption or mechanical damage, forming bioactive compounds with anti-cancer properties, such as glucoraphanin (GRA). Among cruciferous vegetables, broccoli stands out for its high GSL content, which varies significantly among different genotypes. This study aimed to characterize and quantify glucosinolate compounds in broccoli using LC-HRMS2 and UPLC. We identified thirteen GSLs in 191 broccoli genotypes, including seven aliphatic, five indole, and one aromatic glucosinolate. The GSL content in these genotypes ranged from 0.1705 to 5.8174 mg/g (DW). We also explored GSL diversity and content in seven developmental organs, finding high diversity and content in seedling roots and florets. Notably, genotype No. 300 had the highest GSL content (5.8174 mg/g, DW) and GRA (3.1545 mg/g, DW), along with a larger flower bulb diameter (13.4 cm) and a shorter growth stage (11 days), demonstrating its potential for breeding GRA-rich broccoli. To our knowledge, this study encompasses the largest number of broccoli genotypes to date, broadening our understanding of GSLs' diversity and content in broccoli. These findings may provide valuable resources for future breeding or the commercial cultivation of GRA-rich broccoli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruciferous sprouts and microgreens are a good source of bioactive compounds for human health as they are rich in glucosinolates, polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins. Glucosinolates – sulfur‐containing bioactive phytochemicals – have anti‐cancer effects. They mainly exist in cruciferous vegetables. Sulfur is one of the essential elements for plants and is an indispensable component of glucosinolates. This paper summarizes the nutritional value of cruciferous spouts and microgreens, along with the effects of sulfur nutrition on bioactive phytochemical compounds of cruciferous sprouts and microgreens, especially glucosinolates, with the aim of providing information about the dietary effects of cruciferous sprouts and microgreens. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the management of broccoli crop residues and surpluses is critical for improving agricultural practices, optimizing food industrial manufacture, and contributing to better human nutrition. The objective of this study was to obtain novel ingredients based on these residues and surpluses for a wide range of applications in the food industry. The effect of air-drying (60 °C or 80 °C) applied to field residues (broccoli stalks), mimicking industrial conditions, was compared with dehydration by freeze-drying applied to these same field residues and to crop surpluses (broccoli whole plant). Thus, different broccoli flours were obtained and characterised for technological and biological properties including colour, antioxidant activity, nutrients, total polyphenol content, and content of glucosinolates. Flours from field residues showed high levels of dietary fibre (≈ 22% dry weight). Broccoli crop surpluses flours had relevant contents of glucosinolates (≈ 13 mg/g dry weight). Therefore, within the framework of the circular economy, these flours are proposed to revalorise the two main broccoli crop discarded fractions. Such flours could be used in a realistic and simple way by the agri-food industries interested in the development of healthy and conscience foodstuffs, in a cost-efficient manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardamine violifolia, a species belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is a novel vegetable crop that is rich in glucosinolates. However, the specific glucosinolate profiles in this species remain unknown. In the present study, four parts of C. violifolia were collected including central leaves (CLs), outer leaves (OLs), petiole (P), and root (R). The highest level of total glucosinolate was observed in the R. A total of 19 glucosinolates were found in C. violifolia. The predominant glucosinolate compounds were 3-methylbutyl glucosinolate, 6-methylsulfinylhexyl glucosinolate, Indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, and neoglucobrassicin. A transcriptome analysis showed that 16 genes, including BCAT1, BCAT3-6, CYP79A2, CYP79B2-3, CYP83A1, CYP83B1, and SOT17-18, and nine metabolites, such as valine, tryptophan, and 1-methylpropyl glucosinolate, were enriched in the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway. These genes may be involved in the regulation of glucosinolate accumulation among the four parts. A weighted gene co-expression analysis showed that five genes were predicted to regulate glucosinolate accumulation, including ABC transporter G family member 19, 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 19, and pyruvate decarboxylase 1. This study deepens our understanding of the nutrient quality of C. violifolia and provides insights into the regulatory mechanism of glucosinolate accumulation in C. violifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese cabbage is the vegetable with the highest yield in China, and treatment procedures produce plenty of waste, while inappropriate treatments, including careless disposal, cause huge resource waste and severe environmental pollution. Chinese cabbage waste enriches nutrients, such as protein, glucosinolates, and minerals, which can be prepared as an excellent feed. However, the characteristics, including unclear nutrient composition, seasonal production and perishable nature, limit the effective development of Chinese cabbage waste forage utilization. Therefore, this paper reviewed the industrial situation of Chinese cabbage, the nutritional characteristics, forage technology and feeding effects of Chinese cabbage waste, and suggested the prospects of the future research tendency of forage utilization, which aimed to provide theoretical and technological references for forage utilization of Chinese cabbage waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Glucosinolates (GSLs), compounds with potential chemo‐preventative properties, can be affected by pre‐ and post‐harvest processes. Therefore, monitoring their content is important for the food and agricultural industries. This study evaluates the application of mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for the determination of GSLs in commercial broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica). Broccoli (n = 53) from different varieties were analysed using MIR spectroscopy and high‐performance liquid chromatography to develop partial least squares models for six individual GLSs, total indolic glucosinolates and total GSLs. The coefficient of determination in cross‐validation (Rcv2) of 0.50–0.78 whereas residual predictive deviation (RPD) values of 1.35–2.19 for different GSLs. Cross‐validation models developed using Tenderstem® broccoli yielded an Rcv2 of 0.41–0.91 and an RPD of 0.81–2.97. This study showed that MIR spectroscopy can be considered for the determination of some broccoli GSLs. Differences in the loadings between the models demonstrated that variations in broccoli composition can influence the cross‐validation models for GSLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brassicas (Brassicaceae) are recognized as excellent sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Among these, wild turnip (Brassica rapa L.), holds significant promising nutritional properties owed to its abundant glucosinolates and phenolic compounds. To enhance its potential values, the application of elicitors is crucial and good strategy prompting an enrichment in the concentration of phytochemicals, as well established in other relevant Brassicas, such as broccoli. While the responses triggered by certain elicitors such as salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, or chitosan are widely documented, little is known about the impact of electrolyzed water, an economically viable elicitor. Through elicitation strategies, the aim of this work was to unravel insights into enhancing the phytochemical content of wild turnip sprouts for potential use as healthy food, comparing with well-studied broccoli as control of the experiments. Results: Our findings revealed that wild turnip exhibited a notable higher glucosinolate (GSL) contents (487–712 mg 100 g−1 D.W.), than in broccoli sprouts. Furthermore, the use of electrolyzed water (2 vol.) boosted the accumulation of glucosinolates with significant increase up to twofolds the content. Specifically, treatments with salicylic acid (250 μM) and electrolyzed water (2 vol.) favored the significant increase of mainly aliphatic GSL (progoitrin, PRO; gluconapin, GNA; glucobrassicin, GBN). On the other hand, natural antioxidants such as of the characteristic acylated cyanidins present in wild turnip sprouts were not affected by the elicitor treatments, indicative of higher tolerance to oxidative stress in wild turnip. Conclusions: These observations underlined the potential of using electrolyzed water in wild turnips as elicitor for GSL-enriched food ingredients. Further studies will be necessary to align with the broader goal of evaluating abiotic and biotic factors affecting the phytochemical composition in mature organs not only in germinating seeds and sprouts, for agricultural performance for quality and healthy foods purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation and deposition of waxes in high waxy crude oil often result in the low throughput and clogging of pipeline. Adding polymers is a practical approach to solve these problems. In this study, poly(styrene-co-docosyl maleate) s (PSDMs) were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The chemical structure and molecular weight of copolymers were characterized using Fourier infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The ratio of phenyl to aliphatic branches varies from 10:8 to 25:8. The crystallization and morphology of waxes in model oil were investigated by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized light microscopy. The cold flow behaviors of crude oil were evaluated by rheological methods. With the increase of the ratio of phenyl to aliphatic branches, the crystallinity, viscosity, and yield stress of crude oil first increase and then decrease. In the presence of PSDM-2, the crystallinity and enthalpy of phase transition (H) are reduced by 44.2% and 48.9%. Thus, the pour point, viscosity, and yield stress of crude oil are reduced by 6.0°C, 76.8% and 77.4%, respectively. Therefore, welldefined PSDMs are promising to be remarkable flow improvers for waxy crude oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidium draba (hoary cress) is a perennial plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family that produces two dominant glucosinolates (GLSs): glucoraphanin (GRN) and sinalbin (SBN). They represent the stored form, which is converted upon the myrosinase (Myr) hydrolysis activity to active compounds, mainly isothiocyanates (ITCs) such as sulforaphane (SFN) or p-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate (pHBITC). Research on ITCs that have proven anticancer, antimicrobial, and chemoprotective properties is usually conducted with pure commercially available compounds. However, these are chemically reactive, making it difficult to use them directly for preventive purposes in dietary supplements. Efforts are currently being made to prepare dietary supplements enriched with GLS and/or Myr. In this study, we report a simple but efficient chromatographic procedure for the isolation and purification of GLSs from MeOH extract from hoary cress based on a combination of ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex LH-20. To obtain the Myr required for efficient hydrolysis of GLSs into antibacterial ITCs, we developed a rapid method for its extraction from the seeds of Lepidium sativum (garden cress). The yields of GLSs were 22.9 ± 1.2 mg GRN (purity 96%) and 10.4 ± 1.1 mg SBN (purity 92%) from 1 g of dry plant material. Both purified GLSs were used as substrates for the Myr. Analysis of the composition of hydrolysis products (HPs) revealed differences in their hydrolysis rates and in the degree of conversion from GLSs to individual ITCs catalyzed by Myr. When GRNs were cleaved, SFNs were formed in an equimolar ratio, but the formation of pHBITCs was only half that of cleaved SBNs. The decrease in pHBITC content is due to its instability compared to SFN. While SFN is stable in aqueous media during the measurement, pHBITC undergoes non-enzymatic hydrolysis to p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and thiocyanate ions. Testing of the antimicrobial effects of the HPs formed from GRN by Myr under premix or in situ conditions showed inhibition of the growth of model prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. This observation could serve as the jumping-off point for the design of a two-component mixture, based on purified GLSs and Myr that is, usable in food or the pharmaceutical industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of double haploids ("DH") by microspore-derived embryos is one of the best breeding methods to generate new varieties with better traits and stable genetic background. In the previous study, radish 'DH' lines were generated with a different range of glucosinolate (GSL) contents, ranging from low to high levels of GSL. In this study, we performed metabolic and transcriptional profiling to elucidate the regulatory system behind the GSL biosynthesis process using the 'DH' radish lines. Four individual 'DH' lines were selected, of which two lines named 'HH' had high GSL content, while the other two lines, 'LL', had low GSL content. HPLC analysis in the vegetative (leaf and root) and reproductive tissue (seed) was detected seven GSL compounds from radish. Among seven GSLs, glucoraphasatin (GRH) occupied the largest proportion of total GSLs in both leaf and root tissues, while glucoraphenin (GRE) was taking a place as the major GSL in radish seeds. Six major genes (RsBCAT4, RsIPMDH1, RsCYP79F1, RsCYP83A1, RsUGT74B1, and RsGRS1) representing the major biosynthesis of aliphatic GSLs were selected for qRT-PCR analysis. Heat map analysis based on Pearson correlation coefficient showed that RsBCAT4, RsIPMDH1, RsCYP79F1, and RsCYP83A1 were positively correlated with the amount of GRH in leaf tissue. Meanwhile, RsGRS1 showed a strong correlation with the amount of GRH and total aliphatic GSLs in both leaf and root tissues. By using the 'DH' radish lines, this study revealed that regardless of tissues of radish, accumulation of total GSL is strongly affected by the RsGRS1 and also positively supported by the other biosynthetic genes like RsBCAT4, RsIPMDH1, RsCYP79F1, and RsCYP83A1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to decipher the variation in constitutive plant biochemicals, and their influence on development, reproduction and survival of Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Aphididae: Hemiptera) on diverse Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss. (Brassicales) cultivars. These studies revealed significant differences in total nymphal, reproductive and developmental periods, fecundity and offspring survival of L. erysimi on the test B. juncea cultivars. Toal developmental period was significantly longer, while fecundity and survival were lower on Pusa Mustard 27, NRCHB 101, RLC 3, RH 749, RH 725, DRMR 150-35, Pusa Mustard 26 and Pusa Mustard 25, except in a few cases. Further, total protein, antioxidants, tannins, phenols, FRAP, glucosinolates, photosynthetic pigments and different enzymes tested were significantly higher, and total sugars lower in Pusa Mustard 32, Pusa Mustard 30, NRCHB 101, RLC 3, DRMR 150-35, Pusa Mustard 26 and Pusa Mustard 27 as compared to other B. juncea cultivars, except in a few cases. Total sugars exhibited significant and positive association with survival of L. erysimi, while total protein, ferric ion reducing power, chlorophyll A, carotenoids, catalase, phenyl ammonia lyase and tyrosine ammonia lyase showed significant and negative correlation with survival of L. erysimi. Further, the biochemical constituents suggested 94.99, 95.88, 95.30, 97.06 and 84.75% variation in total nymphal, reproductive and total developmental periods, fecundity and survival of the L. erysimi on the test B. juncea cultivars, respectively. Overall, DRMR 150-35, RLC 3, NRCHB 101 and Pusa Mustard 26 have higher amounts of anti-nutritional defence compounds and antioxidative enzymes, distress the growth and survival of L. erysimi, and thus could be deployed in Brassica improvement programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates, the main secondary metabolites accumulated in cruciferous flora, have a major impact on fortifying plant immunity against diverse pathogens. Although Botrytis cinerea exhibits varying sensitivity to these compounds, current research has yet to fully understand the intricate mechanisms governing its response to glucosinolates. Different species of the genus Botrytis were exposed to glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates, revealing that B. fabae, B. deweyae, and B. convolute, species with the mfsG transporter gene (Bcin06g00026) not detected with PCR, were more sensitive to isothiocyanates than Botrytis species containing that gene, such as B. cinerea, B. pseudocinerea, and B. byssoidea. This finding was further corroborated by the inability of species with the mfsG gene not detected with PCR to infect plants with a high concentration of glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates. These results challenge established correlations, revealing varying aggressiveness on different plant substrates. An expression analysis highlighted the gene's induction in the presence of isothiocyanate, and a bioinformatic investigation identified homologous genes in other Botrytis species. Our study underscored the importance of advanced biotechnology to help understand these proteins and thus offer innovative solutions for agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of arsenic-chelating drugs make it essential to replace invasive chelating therapy with non-invasive oral therapy for arsenic poisoning. The goal of the current investigation was to determine whether the uterine damage caused by arsenization could be repaired by the n-butanol fraction of Moringa oleifera seed (NB). The rats were orally administered with arsenic (10 mg/kg BW) for the initial 8 days, followed by NB (50 mg/kg) for the next 8 days without arsenic. The probable existence of different components in NB was evaluated by HPLC–MS. Pro and anti-inflammatory indicators were assessed by RT-PCR and western blot. ESR-α was detected via immunostaining. Arsenic-exposed rats had significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, which were markedly reduced after NB treatment. Weaker ESR-α expression and distorted uterine histomorphology following arsenication were retrieved significantly by NB. Meaningful restoration by NB was also achieved for altered mRNA and protein expression of various inflammatory and apoptotic indicators. Molecular interaction predicted that glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate of moringa interact with the catalytic site of caspase-3 in a way that limits its activity. However, NB was successful in restoring the arsenic-mediated uterine hypofunction. The glucomoringin and methyl glucosinolate present in n-butanol fraction may play a critical role in limiting apoptotic event in the arsenicated uterus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates is a class of secondary metabolites with anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity properties and an intense bitter taste in tumorous stem mustard (TSM), which are used to produce a famous pickle named Zhacai. Spectrophotometric, chromatographic, or infrared techniques showed capacity to evaluate glucosinolate level. The aim of current study was to improve a spectrophotometric methodology to quantify total glucosinolates content (TGC) in TSM. Microwave treatment at medium temperature for 20 s was used to improve the previous method of water bath in enzyme inactivation. Absorbance should be tested at 420 nm for measuring TGC, while not 450 nm. The optimized extraction conditions of glucosinolates were that solid-liquid ratio was 1:22; temperature was 60°C; time was 30 min. The regression curve used for TGC calculation was made using a variety of individual glucosinolate. Recovery rate and variable coefficient of TGC quantitation in TSM were 103% and 5.98%. These results obtained by this method have high consistency within 3 days. In addition, we also introduced the limitations of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the glucosinolate (GSL) content in Brassica plants and utilized in silico analysis approach to assess their antioxidant capabilities. GSLs, present abundantly in Brassica vegetables, offer potential health advantages, including antioxidant effects. Employing Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), major GSLs were identified in 89 accessions from diverse species and subspecies. Statistical analysis and principal component analysis unveiled significant GSL variation and potential correlations among the Brassica germplasms. This study unveils the dominance of aliphatic GSLs over aromatic and indolyl compounds in all the accessions. Notably, Gluconapin (GNA) (33,049.23 µmol·kg−1 DW), Glucobrassicanapin (GBN) (9803.82 µmol·kg−1 DW), Progoitrin (PRO) (12,780.48 µmol·kg−1 DW) and Sinigrin (SIN) (14,872.93 µmol·kg−1 DW) were the most abundant compounds across the analyzed accessions. Moreover, in silico docking studies predicted promising antioxidant activity by evaluating the interactions of each GSL with antioxidant enzymes. Specifically, Sinigrin and Gluconapin exhibited a notably weaker influence on antioxidant enzymes. This provides key insights into the antioxidant potential of Brassica germplasm and highlights the importance of in silico analysis for evaluating bioactive properties. In general, the results of this study could be utilized in breeding programs to maximize GSL levels and antioxidant properties in Brassica crops and for developing functional foods with enhanced health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) application on the nutritional content and yield of five different colored radish microgreens. Microgreens were produced without substrate and subjected to 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM MeJA treatments on the 7th day, three days before harvest. The parameters measured included yield, dry matter, minerals, amino acids, secondary metabolites such as chlorophylls (Chls), anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, glucosinolates (GSLs), vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity. MeJA at 1.0 mM generally improved yield and dry weight across cultivars, and all microgreens exhibited rich mineral and amino acid composition, with the influence of cultivar being more significant than MeJA treatment. However, MeJA enhanced all cultivars' anthocyanins, GSLs, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities. Generally, as the antioxidant capacity is the primary factor influencing the nutritional quality of microgreens, MeJA-treated microgreens, especially with selected superior cultivars such as 'Asia purple' and 'Koregon red', could offer a potential for cultivation of value-added, eco-friendly microgreens with substrate-free cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli is a popular cruciferous vegetable that is well known for its abundant health-promoting biochemicals. The most important of these beneficial biochemicals are glucosinolates, including glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin. Glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin can be broken down by myrosinases into sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, which have been demonstrated to have potent cancer-preventive properties. Efforts to increase glucoraphanin in broccoli seedlings have long been a focus; however, increasing glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin simultaneously, as well as enhancing myrosinase activity to release more sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, have yet to be investigated. This study aims to investigate the impact of the combined application of tryptophan and methionine on the accumulation of sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, as well as their precursors. Furthermore, we also examined whether this application has any effects on seedling growth and the presence of other beneficial compounds. We found that the application of methionine and tryptophan not only increased the glucoraphanin content by 2.37 times and the glucobrassicin content by 3.01 times, but that it also caused a higher myrosinase activity, resulting in a1.99 times increase in sulforaphane and a 3.05 times increase in indole-3-carbinol. In addition, better plant growth and an increase in amino acids and flavonoids were observed in broccoli seedlings with this application. In conclusion, the simultaneous application of tryptophan and methionine to broccoli seedlings can effectively enhance their health-promoting value and growth. Our study provides a cost-effective and multi-benefit strategy for improving the health value and yield of broccoli seedlings, benefiting both consumers and farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates (GLSs) are a well-studied sulfur-containing compound found in Brassicaceae plants that play critical roles in plant resistance and human health. Correctly identifying and reliably quantifying the total and individual GLS content is of great importance. An improved method as an alternative to the ISO 9167-1 (ISO) method is developed in the present study. An efficient extraction and purification procedure is proposed with a commercially available dimethylaminopropyl (DEA)-based weak anion exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge instead of using the self-prepared ion-exchange columns in the ISO method. The GLSs are identified and quantified by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The method demonstrates a comparable quantification of total and individual GLSs on certified rapeseeds and other Brassicaceae vegetables when compared to the ISO method. The developed SPE method is simpler and more efficient, thus allowing for applications to a large sample size with reduced analysis time, improved repeatability and accuracy, and possible automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in the genus Erysimum produce both glucosinolates and cardenolides as a defense mechanism against herbivory. Two natural isolates of Erysimum cheiranthoides (wormseed wallflower) differed in their glucosinolate content, cardenolide content, and their resistance to Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), a broad generalist herbivore. Both classes of defensive metabolites were produced constitutively and were not further induced by aphid feeding. To investigate the relative importance of glucosinolates and cardenolides in E. cheiranthoides defense, we generated an improved genome assembly, genetic map, and segregating F2 population. The genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the F2 plants identified quantitative trait loci, which affected glucosinolates and cardenolides, but not the aphid resistance. The abundance of most glucosinolates and cardenolides was positively correlated in the F2 population, indicating that similar processes regulate their biosynthesis and accumulation. Aphid reproduction was positively correlated with glucosinolate content. Although the overall cardenolide content had little effect on aphid growth and survival, there was a negative correlation between aphid reproduction and helveticoside abundance. However, this variation in defensive metabolites could not explain the differences in aphid growth on the two parental lines, suggesting that processes other than the abundance of glucosinolates and cardenolides have a predominant effect on aphid resistance in E. cheiranthoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maca (Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum) is part of the Brassicaceae family and grows at high altitudes in the Peruvian Andes mountain range (3500–5000 m). Historically, it has been used as a nutrient-dense food and for its medicinal properties, primarily in enhancing energy and fertility. Scientific research has validated these traditional uses and other clinical applications by elucidating maca's mechanisms of action, nutrition, and phytochemical content. However, research over the last twenty years has identified up to seventeen different colors (phenotypes) of maca. The color, hypocotyl size, growing location, cultivation, and post-harvest processing methods can have a significant effect on the nutrition content, phytochemical profile, and clinical application. Yet, research differentiating the colors of maca and clinical applications remains limited. In this review, research on the nutrition, phytochemicals, and various colors of maca, including black, red, yellow (predominant colors), purple, gray (lesser-known colors), and any combination of colors, including proprietary formulations, will be discussed based on available preclinical and clinical trials. The gaps, deficiencies, and conflicts in the studies will be detailed, along with quality, safety, and efficacy criteria, highlighting the need for future research to specify all these factors of the maca used in publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUD: Two‐component histidine kinase (HK) phosphorelay signaling systems play important roles in differentiation, virulence, secondary metabolite production and response to environmental signals. Allyl isothiocyanate (A‐ITC) is a hydrolysis product of glucosinolates with excellent antifungal activity. Our previous study indicated that the mycelial growth of Cochliobolus heterostrophus was significantly hindered by A‐ITC. However, the function of HK in regulating A‐ITC sensitivity was not clear in C. heterostrophus, the causal agent of Southern corn leaf blight. RESULTS: In this study, the role of HKs was investigated in C. heterostrophus. Deletion of the HK coding gene ChNIK1 resulted in dramatically increased sensitivity of C. heterostrophus to A‐ITC. In addition, ΔChnik1 mutant exhibited significantly decreased conidiation and increased sensitivity to NaCl, KCl, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin, but deletion of the other five HK genes did not affect the A‐ITC sensitivity of C. heterostrophus. ChSLN1, ChNIK4, ChNIK8 and ChMAK2 are essential for conidiation and response to H2O2 and sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, deletion of NIKs had on effect on significant virulence. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the HKs play different roles in A‐ITC sensitivity in C. heterostrophus. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary metabolites that are produced in Brassicale order plants and play an important role in their defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, GSLs were reported to possess health benefits like anticancer and anti-inflammation activity. In the present study, the GSL profiles of 13 radishes (Raphanus sativus L) cultivars or inbred lines with different root phenotypes were analyzed. A total of four aliphatics and three indolic GSL compounds were consistently detected from all tested radish accessions. Based on the amounts and profiles of the GSL compounds, we identified that glucoraphasatin (GRH) and glucobrassicin (GBS) were the most abundant in the aliphatic and indolic GSLs, respectively, in young radishes. In addition, we performed a correlation heatmap analysis between the profiles of the individual GSL compounds and the GSL biosynthetic genes involved in the secondary modifications. We found that RsGRS1 plays a major role in the highest abundance of GRH in the aliphatic GSLs. Contrastingly, RsCYP81F3 and its paralogs, RsCYP81Fs might contribute to the profiles of the indolic GSLs in young radishes. In this study, we found that there was a substantial correlation between the transcription of the genes involved in the secondary modification phase of the GSL biosynthetic pathway and the profiles of the aliphatic and indolic GSL compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In the search for new alternatives to avoid the problems associated with the use of synthetic chemical fungicides in agriculture, the use of green manure (GrM) could help combat fungal diseases of crops, such as those produced by the necrotrophic pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. In the case of the use of Brassica tissues as GrM, it could have an elicitor capacity for systemic plant resistance. Results We used kale leaves as a GrM and applied it to pepper plants infected with R. solani. The application of freeze-dried kale tissues to the roots of pepper plants produced a systemic activation of foliar defences via the salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene (ET) pathways, significantly reducing pathogen damage. In addition, this systemic response led to the accumulation of secondary defence metabolites, such as pipecolic acid, hydroxycoumarin and gluconic acid, in leaves. Remarkably, pepper plants treated with lyophilised kale GrM accumulated glucosinolates when infected with R. solani. We also confirmed that autoclaving removed part of the glucobrassicin (85%) and sinigrin (19%) content of the kale tissues. Conclusions GrM kale tissues can activate systemic defences in bell pepper against foliar pathogens through SA/ET hormonal pathways, accumulating secondary defence metabolites.

The complete exploitation of Brassica napus plants is a study hotspot, since it is an essential oil crop that is widely cultivated across the world. Glucosinolate is a unique secondary metabolite in the Brassicaceae family, and its content has a substantial influence on rapeseed development and quality. Its degradation products have various physiological functions, among which Nitrile specific proteins (NSPs) can hydrolyze glucosinolate and hence influence the balance of plant immunity and growth. However, the related gene families in B. napus have not been investigated. Here, 72 NSP family members were discovered and described in B. napus based on their sequence structures, physiological correlations, phonological locations, and expression levels. According to collinearity studies, the NSP proteins in B. napus and A. thaliana are closely related. Analysis of BnNSP expression patterns in various tissues revealed that BnNSPs exhibit high tissue specificity, implying that BnNSPs may play distinguish functions in various developmental phases. We discovered that NSPs may be regulated by hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and metallic jasmonate (MeJA) based on the expression of NSPs during hormone treatment. The results provide valuable information for the future functional characterization of BnNSP genes.

The cultivation of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is rapidly increasing due to oil production resulting in a substantial volume of by-products, which still have an interesting composition in secondary metabolites, especially glucosinolates. Therefore, a green extraction procedure of glucosinolates by Pressurised Liquid Extraction was developed and optimized using a chemometric approach. Furthermore, the glucosinolates were purified by solid phase extraction, and a preliminary study on bioaccessibility and bioavailability study was carried out to evaluate the resistance of the glucosinolates to the digestive process. The application of pressurised liquid extraction to the recovery of glucosinolates from camelina sativa by-product, is a green, automatic, and rapid method, representing a valid alternative to conventional extraction method to obtain ingredients for food industries.

The receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) is a versatile regulator of plant growth and development, biotic and abiotic stress responses, and reproduction. To gain new insights into the molecular interplay of these processes and to identify new FER functions, we carried out quantitative transcriptome, proteome, and phosphoproteome profiling of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) wild-type and fer-4 loss-of-function mutant plants. Gene ontology terms for phytohormone signaling, abiotic stress, and biotic stress were significantly enriched among differentially expressed transcripts, differentially abundant proteins, and/or misphosphorylated proteins, in agreement with the known roles for FER in these processes. Analysis of multiomics data and subsequent experimental evidence revealed previously unknown functions for FER in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) body formation and glucosinolate biosynthesis. FER functions through the transcription factor NAI1 to mediate ER body formation. FER also negatively regulates indole glucosinolate biosynthesis, partially through NAI1. Furthermore, we found that a group of abscisic acid (ABA)-induced transcription factors is hypophosphorylated in the fer-4 mutant and demonstrated that FER acts through the transcription factor ABA INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5) to negatively regulate the ABA response during cotyledon greening. Our integrated omics study, therefore, reveals novel functions for FER and provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of FER function.