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Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 7186

Special Issue Editor

Department of Food Science and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: isolation; fractionation, and characterization of natural antioxidants and other substances from various natural sources which are valuable for human consumption; particularly plant-origin materials and their processing byproducts; preferably using methods meeting green chemistry principles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits and vegetables are commonly recognised as healthy foods. Therefore, modern nutritional guidelines recommend consuming at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day. After the advent of modern analytical techniques, a large number of secondary metabolites have been identified and characterised, and it was established that compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, glucosinolates, stilbenes, and others are responsible for health benefits of the selected fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of dietary fibre components, which are very important in maintaining good health. Development of numerous in vitro and in vivo assays in recent decades has also assisted more systematic and comprehensive evaluations of health benefits of fruits, vegetables, their extracts, and individual phytochemical molecules. The studies have been focused both on commercially cultivated and under-investigated wild species from different regions of the world. Finally, considering sustainability and food security issues, valorisation of fruits and vegetable processing by-products and waste has become a topical theme for the scientists and the general society. Therefore, regardless of the numerous studies on the above-mentioned issues, it is evident that research activities in the area of natural bioactive compounds from fruits and vegetables will remain as an important topic in the future, particularly for obtaining sound scientific knowledge, which is necessary to justify regulatory health claims of natural bioactive compounds. New scientific knowledge is also very important in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals. This Special Issue is launched with the aim of opening a platform for publishing original articles and reviews and reporting important and new scientific results on the above-mentioned topics. The scope of the Special Issue will cover all groups of natural bioactive compounds including various groups of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, tannins, coumarins, carotenoids, glucosinolates, organosulphur compounds, and other. Health promoting properties of these compounds should be supported by in vitro and/or in vivo assays, and mechanistic studies are of a particular interest and importance.

Prof. Dr. Petras Rimantas Venskutonis
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • fruit products
  • vegetable products
  • fruit processing by-products
  • vegetable processing by-products
  • phytochemicals
  • secondary metabolites
  • dietary fibre
  • bioactivities
  • health promoting properties
  • health claims
  • functional foods
  • nutraceuticals
  • synergistic effects

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2569 KiB  
Article
Inhibitory Effects of the Polyphenols from the Root of Rhizophora apiculata Blume on Fatty Acid Synthase Activity and Human Colon Cancer Cells
by Yan Liang, Yue Ban, Lei Liu and Yanchun Li
Molecules 2024, 29(5), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29051180 - 06 Mar 2024
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Marine mangrove vegetation has been traditionally employed in folk medicine to address various ailments. Notably, Rhizophora apiculata Blume has exhibited noteworthy properties, demonstrating efficacy against cancer, viruses, and bacteria. The enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) plays a pivotal role in de novo fatty [...] Read more.
Marine mangrove vegetation has been traditionally employed in folk medicine to address various ailments. Notably, Rhizophora apiculata Blume has exhibited noteworthy properties, demonstrating efficacy against cancer, viruses, and bacteria. The enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) plays a pivotal role in de novo fatty acid synthesis, making it a promising target for combating colon cancer. Our study focused on evaluating the FAS inhibitory effects of both the crude extract and three isolated compounds from R. apiculata. The n-butanol fraction of R. apiculata extract (BFR) demonstrated a significant inhibition of FAS, with an IC50 value of 93.0 µg/mL. For inhibition via lyoniresinol-3α-O-β-rhamnopyranoside (LR), the corresponding IC50 value was 20.1 µg/mL (35.5 µM). LR competitively inhibited the FAS reaction with acetyl-CoA, noncompetitively with malonyl-CoA, and in a mixed manner with NADPH. Our results also suggest that both BFR and LR reversibly bind to the KR domain of FAS, hindering the reduction of saturated acyl groups in fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, BFR and LR displayed time-dependent inhibition for FAS, with kobs values of 0.0045 min−1 and 0.026 min−1, respectively. LR also exhibited time-dependent inhibition on the KR domain, with a kobs value of 0.019 min−1. In human colon cancer cells, LR demonstrated the ability to reduce viability and inhibit intracellular FAS activity. Notably, the effects of LR on human colon cancer cells could be reversed with the end product of FAS-catalyzed chemical reactions, affirming the specificity of LR on FAS. These findings underscore the potential of BFR and LR as potent FAS inhibitors, presenting novel avenues for the treatment of human colon cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds)
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15 pages, 1063 KiB  
Article
Effect of Common Cooking and Drying Methods on Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Corchorus olitorius Identified Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
by Buyile Ncube, Bhekisisa Dlamini and Daniso Beswa
Molecules 2022, 27(24), 9052; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27249052 - 19 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1462
Abstract
In this study, Corchorus olitorius leaves were subjected to different thermal treatments (blanching, boiling, drying, frying, and steaming) and analyzed, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify functional groups, [...] Read more.
In this study, Corchorus olitorius leaves were subjected to different thermal treatments (blanching, boiling, drying, frying, and steaming) and analyzed, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify functional groups, while metabolites were identified with LC-MC. The TPC and antioxidant activity of C. olitorius were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by cooking and drying. The steam-cooked sample had the highest TPC (18.89 mg GAE/g) and TFC (78.42 mg QE/g). With ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH assays, the steam-cooked sample exhibited the highest antioxidant activity of 119.58, 167.31, and 122.23 µM TE/g, respectively. LC-MS identified forty-two (42) metabolites in C. olitorius that included phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoid derivatives, and amino acid derivatives. Overall, steaming appears to be the best cooking method, with respect to the retention of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds)
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16 pages, 1015 KiB  
Article
Brazilian Agroindustrial Wastes as a Potential Resource of Bioative Compounds and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities
by Alaor Valério Filho, Luisa Bataglin Avila, Douglas Hardt Lacorte, Thamiris Renata Martiny, Vanessa Rosseto, Caroline Costa Moraes, Guilherme Luiz Dotto, Neftali Lenin Villarreal Carreno and Gabriela Silveira da Rosa
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6876; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206876 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
The study of the recovery of bioactive compounds from natural resources and its implications in several areas is very significant for the scientific community. This work aimed to study Brazilian agroindustrial wastes’ antioxidant and antimicrobial activities using green extraction. Olive leaves, jaboticaba peel, [...] Read more.
The study of the recovery of bioactive compounds from natural resources and its implications in several areas is very significant for the scientific community. This work aimed to study Brazilian agroindustrial wastes’ antioxidant and antimicrobial activities using green extraction. Olive leaves, jaboticaba peel, araçá peel, and pecan nut shells were evaluated under four conditions: (1) convective-drying and aqueous extraction, (2) convective-drying and ethanolic extraction, (3) freeze-drying and aqueous extraction, and (4) freeze-drying and ethanolic extraction. The results demonstrated that all samples showed high antioxidant potential, and the highest antioxidant activity was obtained for the extract of pecan nut shell. As for the quantification of compounds by HPLC, the olive leaf presented the highest content of phenolic compounds in the extract, mainly oleuropein. Finally, the antimicrobial activity analysis revealed the extracts’ bactericidal potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The present study shows that green extraction can extract bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, highlighting the importance of choosing the drying method and solvent for future uses of these natural resources by the industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds)
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12 pages, 4281 KiB  
Article
Changes in Fruit Quality Phytochemicals of Late-Mature Peach ‘Yonglian No.1’ during Storage
by Wen Li, Zekang Pei, Juane Shang, Hongjuan Yang, Xiaohua Kui, Zhifang Zeng, Cuilan Ma and Dongliang Qiu
Molecules 2022, 27(19), 6319; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196319 - 25 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1307
Abstract
In this study, the changes in quality parameters and sensory-influencing parameters from the peel, red flesh, and white flesh of ‘Yonglian No.1’ peach fruits were analyzed during cold storage. The results indicated that the contents of total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugar, organic [...] Read more.
In this study, the changes in quality parameters and sensory-influencing parameters from the peel, red flesh, and white flesh of ‘Yonglian No.1’ peach fruits were analyzed during cold storage. The results indicated that the contents of total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugar, organic acid, vitamin C, total anthocyanin, phenol, and flavonoids, as well as the good fruit rate varied depending on the storage stages and storage treatments. The peach fruits in MAP stored for 50 days had favorable exterior qualities, a good fruit rate of 100%, and a higher content of total soluble solids (TSS) at 12.6%. MAP was significantly effective at maintaining fruit firmness, the content of TSS, soluble sugar, organic acid, vitamin C, total anthocyanin, phenol, and flavonoids. Among the derivatives of anthocyanin, both cyanidin and pelargonidin were found in the peel, with a content of 33.45 mg/kg FW and 1.82 mg/kg FW, respectively. However, cyanidin was detected in the flesh with a content of 40.42 mg/kg FW. In the present work, the differences regarding phytochemical profiles and physical properties were mainly correlated with the storage stages and storage treatments of peach fruit. ‘Yonglian No.1’ had higher levels of health-promoting compounds during storage and maintained favorable quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds)
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18 pages, 2542 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Acetogenins Using Thermosonication-Assisted Extraction from Annona muricata Seeds and Their Antifungal Activity
by Brandon Alexis López-Romero, Gabriel Luna-Bárcenas, María de Lourdes García-Magaña, Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza, Luis Gerardo Zepeda-Vallejo, Ulises Miguel López-García, Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto, Gabriela Aguilar-Hernández, Alejandro Pérez-Larios and Efigenia Montalvo-González
Molecules 2022, 27(18), 6045; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27186045 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1645
Abstract
The objective of this work was to find the optimal conditions by thermosonication-assisted extraction (TSAE) of the total acetogenin content (TAC) and yield from A. muricata seeds, assessing the effect of the temperature (40, 50, and 60 °C), sonication amplitude (80, 90, and [...] Read more.
The objective of this work was to find the optimal conditions by thermosonication-assisted extraction (TSAE) of the total acetogenin content (TAC) and yield from A. muricata seeds, assessing the effect of the temperature (40, 50, and 60 °C), sonication amplitude (80, 90, and 100%), and pulse-cycle (0.5, 0.7, and 1 s). In addition, optimal TSAE conditions of acetogenins (ACGs) were compared with extraction by ultrasound at 25 °C and the soxhlet method measuring TAC and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, solubility and identification of isolated ACGs were performed. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of ACGs crude extract and isolated ACGs was evaluated. Optimal TSAE conditions to extract the highest TAC (35.89 mg/g) and yield (3.6%) were 50 °C, 100% amplitude, and 0.5 s pulse-cycle. TSAE was 2.17-fold and 15.60-fold more effective than ultrasound at 25 °C and the Soxhlet method to extract ACGs with antioxidant capacity. Isolated ACGs were mostly soluble in acetone and methanol. Seven ACGs were identified, and pseudoannonacin was the most abundant. The inhibition of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and Candida tropicalis was higher from isolated ACGs than crude extract. TSAE was effective to increase the yield in the ACGs extraction from A. muricata seeds and these ACGs have important antifungal activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetables as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds)
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