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Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 14746

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Dr. Jelena Dragišić Maksimović

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Guest Editor

Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
Interests: enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant components; defense mechanisms; primary metabolites ; secondary metabolites ; qualitative and quantitative changes in the content of metabolites

Dr. Vuk Maksimović

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Guest Editor

Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade Kneza Viseslava 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
Interests: biochemistry of fruits; plant secondary metabolites; the role of polyphenols in oxidative stress; HPLC techniques; nonenzymatic reactions; the role of polyphenols in oxidative stress protection; the role of sugars in oxidative defense and/or pro-oxidation; free-radical-mediated reactions; phenolic metabolism; the apoplast and cell wall as model systems for the investigation of redox processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants naturally produce various substances of different chemical nature, which represent the products of primary and secondary plant metabolism. Primary metabolites such as carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, and organic acids are required for processes of plant growth and development. Products obtained from primary metabolites and produced by biosynthetic modifications into more complex structural composition are considered secondary metabolites; these include flavonoids, carotenoids, sterols, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and glucosinolates. They are responsible for the color of fruits, protection against herbivores and microorganisms, and the attraction of pollinators and seed-dispersing animals, and act as signal molecules in stress conditions.

The biological functions of many metabolites are still widely unrecognized in plants due to their frequently low concentrations, so emerging challenges in plant biology primarily include the selection of appropriate methods for the extraction of compounds of interest and their subsequent quantification. Recently, the application of advanced analytical methods such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc. has enabled quantitative and qualitative research in metabolomics. Even so, knowledge regarding a huge number of plant metabolites is still obscure, and their functions remain unknown. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of different classes of metabolites with broad activities in plant tissues. We welcome both review and original research articles.

Dr. Jelena Dragišić Maksimović
Dr. Vuk Maksimović
Guest Editors

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Keywords

analytical methods
extraction procedures
primary metabolites
sugars
organic acids
amino acids
vitamins
nucleotides
polyols
secondary metabolites
phenolic compounds
antioxidative enzymes
phytohormones
pigments
essential oils
reactive oxygen species

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detailed Metabolic Characterization of Flowers and Hips of Rosa gallica L. Grown in Open Nature

by Nina Kunc, Metka Hudina, Maja Mikulič-Petkovšek, Jože Bavcon, Blanka Ravnjak and Gregor Osterc

Plants 2023, 12(16), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12162979 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 937

Abstract

Our research aimed to investigate the primary and secondary metabolites of rosehips and petals of R. gallica in comparison with R. subcanina. R. gallica was chosen because it is still unexplored in terms of various bioactive substances and is strongly present in Slovenia. Given that roses are generally very variable and unstudied, our research will contribute to greater transparency and knowledge of the bioactive composition of rosehips and petals. We found a strong positive correlation between the total content of phenolics and ascorbic acid, between the total content of organic acids and the total content of carotenoids, and between the total content of sugars and the total content of organic acids. Hips of R. gallica contained higher amounts of sugars, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids than R. subcanina. Based on the composition of phenolic compounds in the petals, it is possible to distinguish between the two species. Among all the phenolic compounds in the petals, both genotypes are richest in gallotannins, followed by flavonols. Among anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside was determined, the content of which was also higher in R. gallica. It can be concluded that the studied hips had an extremely low sugar content and, consequently, an extremely high organic acid content. The content of carotenoids in hips was in the lower range of the average content compared to data from the literature. By optimizing the harvesting time, we could obtain a higher content of carotenoids, which could potentially be used for industrial purposes. However, we found that the analyzed petals were a rich source of phenolic compounds, which benefit the human body and could be potentially used in the food and cosmetic industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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20 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenolics and Sesquiterpene Lactones Profile of Red and Green Lettuce: Combined Effect of Cultivar, Microbiological Fertiliser, and Season

by Milica Stojanović, Slađana Savić, Abigaël Delcourt, Jean-Louis Hilbert, Philippe Hance, Jelena Dragišić Maksimović and Vuk Maksimović

Plants 2023, 12(14), 2616; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142616 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1186

Abstract

The main goal of our study was to find an optimal combination of tested factors to achieve lettuce rich in bioactive compounds sustaining its pleasant taste. We examined three red and three green cultivars in a greenhouse using two microbiological fertilisers (EM Aktiv and Vital Tricho), and their combination. Plants were grown in three consecutive growing seasons (autumn, winter, and spring). Lactones accumulated in autumn, whereas phenolics’ concentration rose during winter. Red cultivars showed higher phenolics and lactone content, where chicoric acid and luteolin-7-glucoside were the most abundant in the ‘Gaugin’ winter trial. Lactucopicrin was the predominant lactone among tested cultivars with the highest value in the red cultivar ‘Carmesi’. Solely applicated, the fertiliser EM Aktiv and Vital Tricho led to significantly higher phenolic acid and dihydrolactucopicrin content, while combined, there were notably increased levels of all detected lactones. Application of single fertilisers had no effect on flavonoid content, while the combination even reduced it. A sensory analysis showed a negative correlation between overall taste and total sesquiterpene lactones, lactucopicrin, caffeoylmalic, and chlorogenic acid, indicating a less bitter taste with decreasing content of these compounds. Our findings indicate that the cultivar, fertiliser, and growing season jointly affected all of the tested parameters, highlighting the differences in the application of EM Aktiv, Vital Tricho, and their combination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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21 pages, 2777 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenolic, Polysaccharides Composition, and Texture Properties during Ripening and Storage Time of New Table Grape Cultivars in Chile

by Alvaro Peña-Neira, Mariona Gil i Cortiella, Cristina Ubeda, Claudio Pastenes, Luís Villalobos, Loreto Contador, Rodrigo Infante and Camila Gómez

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2488; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132488 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1168

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the phenolic and polysaccharidic composition, texture properties, and gene expression of new seedless table grape cultivars Timco™ and Krissy™ and compare them to the traditional table grape variety Crimson Seedless (Vitis vinifera L.), during ripening and in commercial postharvest conditions. According to the results, phenolic compounds were present in very different proportions. The total anthocyanins responsible for skin color increased during maturation and the majority anthocyanin in the three cultivars was peonidin-3-glucoside, followed by malvidin-3-glucoside. The phenolic compounds presented a different behavior (decreasing or increasing) during postharvest. The total skin soluble polysaccharides decreased during ripening and postharvest in Crimson Seedless and Krissy™ and remained constant from technological maturity to postharvest storage in Timco™. In all cultivars, the majority soluble polysaccharide fraction was that with a molecular mass between 500 and 35 KDa. The skin mechanical properties of table grapes were good parameters for differentiating varieties, with better results for the new cultivars, compared to the traditional Crimson Seedless, especially in postharvest. Genes involved in the flavonoid pathway and cell wall metabolism in skins exhibited an increase in expression from veraison to remaining constant at the end of the berry ripening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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14 pages, 2910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Zorica Popović, Vera Vidaković, Tatjana Mijalković and Dijana Krstić-Milošević

Plants 2023, 12(13), 2434; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132434 - 23 Jun 2023

Viewed by 769

Abstract

Phytochemical profiling of six natural populations of Gentianella austriaca was performed by HPLC identification and quantification of a number of secondary metabolites, and evaluation of time series of peak areas by chemometric analysis. Phytochemical analysis of G. austriaca revealed the presence of iridoids, flavone-C-glucosides and xanthones. Twelve secondary metabolites were identified in the aerial parts, roots and seeds, including swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), isoorientin (ISOOR), swertisin (SWE), demethylbellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (DMB-8-O-glc), bellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (BDF-8-O-glc), mangiferin (MGF), corymbiferin (CBF), corymbiferin-1-O-glucoside (CBF-1-O-glc), bellidifolin (BDF) and campestroside. Multivariate statistical analyses showed relatively low variability among populations according to secondary metabolite content. However, some pharmacologically important compounds were found in higher amounts in a few populations, which could be useful for conservation and future biotechnological procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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18 pages, 6124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sugars and Organic Acids in 25 Strawberry Cultivars: Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation

by Dragica Milosavljević, Vuk Maksimović, Jasminka Milivojević, Ilija Djekić, Bianca Wolf, Jan Zuber, Carla Vogt and Jelena Dragišić Maksimović

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122238 - 07 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1898

Abstract

(1) The nutritional quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) fruits, among others, is largely maintained by the presence of soluble sugars and organic acids. As the primary products of photosynthesis, they are energy depots in plants, necessary for the construction of cell constituents, but also serve as precursors of aromatic compounds and signaling molecules. (2) In this study, fruits of 25 strawberry cultivars were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized concerning individual sugars and organic acids by HPLC, FT-ICR-MS, and MS imaging analysis. In addition, the total quality index (TQI), as a novel mathematical model, was used to compare all individual parameters evaluated to obtain a quantitative single score, as an indicator of overall fruit quality. (3) Regardless of a large number of cultivars and monitored parameters that were studded, several cultivars stood out in terms of selected primary metabolites, such as ‘Rumba’, ‘Jeny’, and ‘Sandra’, while the latter had the best TQI score. (4) Intercultivar variations in sugars and organic acids profiles, along with other bioactive compounds, should be considered for selection of promising cultivars with improved naturally occurring nutraceutical traits. Besides the search for a pleasant taste, increased awareness of healthy nutrition resulted in heightening consumer demand for high-quality fruit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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17 pages, 3291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stability of Leaf Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Metabolite Concentrations over the Time from the Prism of Secondary Sexual Dimorphism

by Miroslava Rakocevic, Aline de Holanda Nunes Maia, Marcus Vinicius de Liz, Rafaela Imoski, Cristiane Vieira Helm, Euclides Lara Cardozo Junior and Ivar Wendling

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2199; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112199 - 02 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1180

Abstract

The yerba mate leaf metabolic composition depends mainly on genetics, sex, plant and leaf age, light intensity, harvest time, climate, and fertilization. In yerba mate, the secondary sexual dimorphism (SSD), the leaf metabolic SSD association with the frequency of leaf harvests, and the stability of the metabolites in the two genders over the years is not known. It was hypothesized that (1) the SSD in the metabolite segregation would differ among the winter and summer growth pauses, (2) females would show lower metabolite concentrations, and (3) the metabolic concentrations would show stability over the years on the same plants, not obligatorily associated with the SSD stability expression. Variations in theobromine, caffeine, chlorogenic and caffeic acids were correlated to the increasing time since the previous harvest, especially in females. However, the frequency of the metabolic SSD were associated with the studied growth pauses, rejecting the first hypothesis. No regular gender superiority was expressed in the yerba mate leaf secondary metabolites, rejecting our second hypothesis, even though more cases of superior female metabolite accumulation were identified. The stability of the leaf protein was preserved over the four years, with no SSD cases observed. The leaf methylxanthines were time stable, while the decrease in the phenolic content occurred with tree aging, which was not associated with the SSD expression, partially proving our third hypothesis. The novelty was related to the time stability of the leaf metabolic SSD observed over the winter and summer growth pauses, and over the four consecutive years without a regular expression of the male- or female-biased concentrations in the studied metabolites. To demystify the random metabolic gender responses in yerba mate, gender-orientated experiments with a high number of tree repetitions must be conducted, including clonal plants grown in various environments, such as monoculture and agroforestry, or on plantations in different climates and altitudes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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14 pages, 8329 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Growth Stages on Anthocyanins and Polyphenols in the Root System of Sweet Potato

by Yuno Setoguchi, Soya Nakagawa, Ryo Ohmura, Saki Toshima, Hyungjun Park, Yosuke Narasako, Tomonari Hirano, Motoyasu Otani and Hisato Kunitake

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091907 - 08 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2588

Abstract

The storage roots of purple-fleshed sweet potato contain a variety of anthocyanins and polyphenols. Little is known about changes in the total content and composition of anthocyanins and polyphenols in the early growth stages of the root system. In this study, we investigated the changes in anthocyanins and polyphenols in the root system of purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after transplant (DAT). Unexpectedly, the highest percentage of acylated anthocyanins in three purple-fleshed cultivars among all growth stages was at 15 DAT. On the other hand, the total polyphenol content in the early growth stages of the root system increased rapidly toward 45 DAT, just before the beginning of storage root enlargement, and then decreased rapidly as the storage roots began to enlarge. These data indicate that the early growth stage of the root system is a critical time. This timing may present a strategy to maximize the accumulation of polyphenols with high antioxidant activity, as well as acylated anthocyanins, to protect against abiotic and biotic stresses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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16 pages, 1177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Anthocyanin-Enriched Brine on Nutritional, Functional and Sensory Properties of Pickled Baby Corn

by Marijana Simić, Valentina Nikolić, Dubravka Škrobot, Jelena Srdić, Vesna Perić, Saša Despotović and Slađana Žilić

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091812 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 958

Abstract

Considering the great potential of black soybean seed coat as a source of bioactive compounds, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of anthocyanin-rich brine from the seed coat on functional properties of pickled baby corn, as well as its sensory properties. Given that the ears of sweet corn, popping corn and semi-flint corn were used for pickling in the pre-pollination phase, the effect of genotype and its growing stage on the chemical composition of Baby corn product was also taken into consideration. The brine of black soybean with a total anthocyanins content of 11,882.9 mg CGE/kg (cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent) and an antioxidant capacity of 399.5 mmol Trolox Eq/kg determined by QUENCHER method had a positive impact on the functional potential of baby corn products. The content of total anthocyanins in the obtained products ranged from 748.6 to 881.2 mg CGE/kg, the predominant anthocyanin was cyanidin-3-glucoside (184.6 to 247.5 μg/g), while their colour was red. Compared to the commercial sample, baby corn products pickled in the enriched solution had a 26% to 46% and 17% to 26% higher content of total free phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, respectively. Contrarily, the control sample had higher sugar and fibre content. As established, pickled popping corn had the best sensory properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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26 pages, 4699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Purple Carrot Germplasm for Antioxidant Capacity and Root Concentration of Anthocyanins, Phenolics, and Carotenoids

by María Belén Pérez, Sofía Carvajal, Vanesa Beretta, Florencia Bannoud, María Florencia Fangio, Federico Berli, Ariel Fontana, María Victoria Salomón, Roxana Gonzalez, Lucia Valerga, Jorgelina C. Altamirano, Mehtap Yildiz, Massimo Iorizzo, Philipp W. Simon and Pablo F. Cavagnaro

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091796 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), in a partially replicated experimental design comprising data from two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). Broad and significant (p < 0.0001) variation was found among the accessions for all the traits. Acylated anthocyanins (AA) predominated over non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA) in all the accessions and years analyzed, with AA accounting for 55.5–100% of the total anthocyanin content (TAC). Anthocyanins acylated with ferulic acid and coumaric acid were the most abundant carrot anthocyanins. In general, black or solid purple carrots had the greatest TAC and total phenolic content (TPC), and the strongest antioxidant capacities, measured by all methods. Antioxidant capacity, estimated by all methods, was significantly, positively, and moderately-to-strongly correlated with the content of all individual anthocyanins pigments, TAC, and TPC, in both years (r = 0.59–0.90, p < 0.0001), but not with the carotenoid pigments lutein and β-carotene; suggesting that anthocyanins and other phenolics, but not carotenoids, are major contributors of the antioxidant capacity in purple carrots. We identified accessions with high concentration of chemically stable AA, with potential value for the production of food dyes, and accessions with relatively high content of bioavailable NAA that can be selected for increased nutraceutical value (e.g., for fresh consumption). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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18 pages, 3679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Composition of the Fruit of Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) Cultivars Grown in the Collection of the National Botanic Garden of Latvia

by Rima Šedbarė, Ginta Jakštāne and Valdimaras Janulis

Plants 2023, 12(4), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040771 - 08 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1225

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a qualitative and quantitative analysis of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols and triterpenoids in samples of introduced and bred large cranberry fruits from the collection of the National Botanic Garden of Latvia. The highest total anthocyanin levels (8638–9316 µg/g) were detected in the fruit samples of the cranberry cultivars ‘Black Veil’, ‘Franclin’ and ‘Early Black’. The highest total proanthocyanidin levels (2775–3389 µg/g) were found in cranberries of cultivars ‘Kalnciema Agrā’, ‘Kalnciema Tumšā’, ‘Searles’, ‘Howes’, and ‘Kalnciema Ražīgā’. The highest levels of flavonol compounds (1373–1402 µg/g) were detected in cranberries of cultivars ‘Howes’, ‘Black Veil’ and ‘Salaspils Melnās’. The highest levels of triterpenoids (5292–5792 µg/g) were determined in cranberries of cultivars ‘Kalnciema Agrā’, ‘Septembra’, ‘Džbrūklene’ and ‘Early Black’. The results of our study allow for the estimation of differences in the content of secondary metabolites in the fruit samples of the studied cranberry cultivars and for the selection of promising cultivars for further introduction and cultivation in the climatic conditions of the Baltic countries. These results are also important for the selection of the most promising cranberry cultivars for the preparation of cranberry raw material, and the high-quality composition of plant material ensures the effectiveness of cranberry supplements and other cranberry preparations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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