Improving the phytochemical profile and bioactivity of Chinese cabbage sprouts by interspecific transfer of metabolites.

• First assessment on nutritional significance of interspecies phytochemical transfer. • Black bryony improved L -ascorbic acid, kaempferol and total phenolics in cabbage. • Black bryony improved antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity of cabbage. • St. John's-wort, rose and chamomille increased cabbage antiproliferative activity. • Transfer of L -ascorbic acid and phenolics is affected by donor matrix. The high demand for healthy food in recent years has led to an increasing need for highly bioactive plant materials. One such plant, Chinese cabbage, possesses flavonoids with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, but they appear in low quantities. The interspecific transfer of metabolites is a promising technique that could contribute to the increase of the beneficial properties of food. The objective of the study was to determine how an interspecific source-sink phytochemical transfer from donor extracts to the Chinese cabbage affects its phenolic and vitamin C profile and intestinal bioaccessibility, hypoglycemic potential and antioxidant capacity. In addition, sprouts treated with Rosa sp. and Hypericum perforatum extracts showed better antiproliferative effect towards human breast adenocarcinoma cells than untreated sprouts. The results suggest that treatment of plants with donor extracts is a promising approach to improve the nutritional and phytochemical profile and bioactive properties of acceptor plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]