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Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 13871

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Prof. Dr. María Serrano

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Department of Applied Biology, EPSO, University Miguel Hernández, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain
Interests: post-harvest; fruit quality; fruit ripening; ethylene; bioactive compounds; antioxidants; eco-friendly technologies; salicylates; polyamines; jasmonates; melatonin; γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA); cut flowers
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Prof. Dr. Daniel Valero

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Technology, EPSO, CIAGRO-University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain
Interests: postharvest; elicitors; non-contaminant technologies; bioactive compounds; antioxidants; food technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit and vegetables are rich in bioactive compounds; either hydrophilic compounds, such as phenolics, including anthocyanins and ascorbic acid, or lipophilic compounds, such as carotenoids and vitamin E. These compounds belong to the secondary metabolism of plants, having a pivotal role in the relationship between plant and environment. In addition, these bioactive compounds have antioxidant properties, contributing to the scavenging of free radicals and being responsible for the human health benefits attributed to their consumption. In fact, in the last two decades, a wide range of scientific papers have reported that they have antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as neuroprotective and cardiovascular-protective activity. The aim of the present Special Issue is to describe their mechanism of action in improving human nutrition and causing health benefits, by using biological, chemical, cellular, molecular, and immunological methods.

Prof. Dr. María Serrano
Prof. Dr. Daniel Valero
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant Systems and Quality in Sweet Cherries Are Improved by Preharvest GABA Treatments Leading to Delay Postharvest Senescence

by Alberto Carrión-Antolí, Fátima Badiche-El Hilali, José M. Lorente-Mento, Huertas M. Díaz-Mula, María Serrano and Daniel Valero

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010260 - 23 Dec 2023

Viewed by 655

Abstract

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays important roles in plant development, including the maintenance of fruit quality when applied as postharvest treatment. However, little information is available about the effects of preharvest GABA treatments. Thus, GABA (10, 50 and 100 mM) was applied as foliar spray at key points of fruit development in three sweet cherry cultivars and over two years. The results show that quality parameters, such as total soluble solid content, titratable acidity and firmness were higher in the fruit from GABA-treated trees than in the controls, either at harvest or during four weeks of cold storage. In addition, the total phenolic and total and individual anthocyanin concentrations were also enhanced by GABA treatments and the fruit color was improved. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase were also enhanced by the GABA treatments. The most effective concentration was 50 mM, which led to extending the storage period of sweet cherries with high quality traits to up to four weeks, while for the controls this was two weeks. Thus, GABA treatment had a clear effect on delaying the postharvest ripening and senescence processes in sweet cherries, with an additional effect on enhancing the content of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and anthocyanins, with antioxidant properties and health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables)

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15 pages, 1422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactive Compounds in Plasma as a Function of Sex and Sweetener Resulting from a Maqui-Lemon Beverage Consumption Using Statistical and Machine Learning Techniques

by Diego Hernández-Prieto, Pablo S. Fernández, Vicente Agulló, Cristina García-Viguera and Jose A. Egea

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032140 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1297

Abstract

The present study analyses the effect of a beverage composed of citrus and maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) with different sweeteners on male and female consumers. Beverages were designed and tested (140 volunteers) as a source of polyphenols, in a previous work. Plasma samples were taken before and after two months of daily intake. Samples were measured for bioactive-compound levels with metabolomics techniques, and the resulting data were analysed with advanced versions of ANOVA and clustering analysis, to describe the effects of sex and sweetener factors on bioactive compounds. To improve the results, machine learning techniques were applied to perform feature selection and data imputation. The results reflect a series of compounds which are more regulated for men, such as caffeic acid or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and for women, trans ferulic acid (TFA) or naringenin glucuronide. Regulations are also observed with sweeteners, such as TFA with stevia in women, or vanillic acid with sucrose in men. These results show that there is a differential regulation of these two families of polyphenols by sex, and that this is influenced by sweeteners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables)

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16 pages, 2515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salvia plebeia R.Br. and Rosmarinic Acid Attenuate Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in C2C12 Myotubes

by Jae-Yong Kim, Hye Mi Kim, Ji Hoon Kim, Shuo Guo, Do Hyun Lee, Gyu Min Lim, Wondong Kim and Chul Young Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 1876; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031876 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2571

Abstract

Skeletal muscle atrophy occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis and is associated with increased circulating glucocorticoid levels. Salvia plebeia R.Br. (SPR) has been used as herbal remedy for a variety of inflammatory diseases and has various biological actions such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there are no reports on the effects of SPR and its bioactive components on muscle atrophy. Herein, we investigated the anti-atrophic effect of SPR and rosmarinic acid (RosA), a major compound of SPR, on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. Myotubes were treated with 10 μM DEX in the presence or absence of SPR or RosA at different concentrations for 24 h and subjected to immunocytochemistry, western blot, and measurements of ROS and ATP levels. SPR and RosA increased viability and inhibited protein degradation in DEX-treated C2C12 myotubes. In addition, RosA promoted the Akt/p70S6K/mTOR pathway and reduced ROS production, and apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment of RosA significantly recovered SOD activity, autophagy activity, mitochondrial contents, and APT levels in DEX-treated myotubes. These findings suggest that SPR and RosA may provide protective effects against DEX-induced muscle atrophy and have promising potential as a nutraceutical remedy for the treatment of muscle weakness and atrophy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables)

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Review

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22 pages, 2167 KiB

Open AccessReview

Perspectives on Saponins: Food Functionality and Applications

by Yakindra Prasad Timilsena, Arissara Phosanam and Regine Stockmann

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713538 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

Saponins are a diverse group of naturally occurring plant secondary metabolites present in a wide range of foods ranging from grains, pulses, and green leaves to sea creatures. They consist of a hydrophilic sugar moiety linked to a lipophilic aglycone, resulting in an amphiphilic nature and unique functional properties. Their amphiphilic structures enable saponins to exhibit surface-active properties, resulting in stable foams and complexes with various molecules. In the context of food applications, saponins are utilized as natural emulsifiers, foaming agents, and stabilizers. They contribute to texture and stability in food products and have potential health benefits, including cholesterol-lowering and anticancer effects. Saponins possess additional bioactivities that make them valuable in the pharmaceutical industry as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents to name a few. Saponins can demonstrate cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines and can also act as adjuvants, enhancing the immune response to vaccines. Their ability to form stable complexes with drugs further expands their potential in drug delivery systems. However, challenges such as bitterness, cytotoxicity, and instability under certain conditions need to be addressed for effective utilization of saponins in foods and related applications. In this paper, we have reviewed the chemistry, functionality, and application aspects of saponins from various plant sources, and have summarized the regulatory aspects of the food-based application of quillaja saponins. Further research to explore the full potential of saponins in improving food quality and human health has been suggested. It is expected that this article will be a useful resource for researchers in food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and material science. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables)

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18 pages, 912 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa: An Underutilized Fruit with High Nutraceutical Values: A Review

by Niharika Sharma, Radha, Manoj Kumar, Baohong Zhang, Neeraj Kumari, Daljeet Singh, Deepak Chandran, Tanmay Sarkar, Sangram Dhumal, Vijay Sheri, Abhijit Dey, Sureshkumar Rajalingam, Sabareeshwari Viswanathan, Pran Mohankumar, Marthandan Vishvanathan, Sangeetha Kizhakkumkara Sathyaseelan and Jose M. Lorenzo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810889 - 17 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5733

Abstract

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Bael) fruit, a member of the Rutaceae family, is a major cultivated fruit plant in tropical and subtropical regions in countries of southeast Asia. Bael fruit has been a major topic for studies in recent years mainly due to its high nutritional (carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and vitamins) value and presence of various phytochemicals, which attributed to its high medicinal value. These phytochemicals include various compounds, e.g., alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, gallic, and ellagic acid). The fruit extract of bael has been also an important study area for its pharmacological activities, including antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, radioprotective, anticancer, antiulcer properties. The current review mainly highlighted the nutritional and pharmacological activities of bael fruit. The nutritional profile and phytochemical profile were discussed in the review, along with their concentration in the fruit. Moreover, the experiments carried out in vivo and in vitro of bael fruit extracts with respect to their pharmacological activities were also discussed in the article. The recent literature based on nutritional and pharmacological values of bael fruit showed its high potential as a food and pharmaceutical product. Despite having high nutritional and pharmacological value, research related to molecular mechanisms of bael fruit is still limited, and clinical trials are needed to ensure its safety as a product in the food and pharma industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactives in Fruit and Vegetables)

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