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Horticulturae
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Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition
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Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 3786

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Loredana Elena Vijan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Pitesti University Centre, The National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 110142 Pitesti, Romania
Interests: bioactive compounds in horticultural plants; adsorption studies of some organic pollutants on mesoporous activated carbon; UV-Vis and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy; quantum chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mihai Botu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Horticulture and Food Science, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Craiova, RO-200585 Craiova, Romania
Interests: fruit and nut crops breeding; collecting, evaluation and conservation of plant genetic resources; plant propagation; sustainable and organic horticulture; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The plant kingdom is a source of essential nutrients and also provides constituents with biological activity for human and animal bodies. A wide variety of compounds and complexes participate in processes that maintain the integrity of the vegetal organism, and can have functions in human and animal organisms in equal measure. The aim of the Special Issue "Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition" is to present a comprehensive analysis of plants as bioactive compounds sources, to identify the vegetal organs in which they are found at the highest level and the timing of their maximum availability. It will highlight the structural and functional diversity of biologically active compounds, the established synergistic or antagonistic relationships, and how the isolation of some components could affect their activity.

Another concern is the role that bioactive compounds play in the body as antioxidants, protectors of the structural, functional, and energetic components; adjuvants of physiological processes; their antiviral and antimicrobial properties, as well as the role of an activator/suppressor of enzymatic systems or genes.

Studies on non-beneficial actions (antinutrient activity or interaction with drugs), the pro-oxidant role they may play in certain circumstances, and alterations in the activity of the biomolecule as a result of treatments during extraction or processing protocols are also of interest.

Bioactive compounds remain among the most studied plant components, and understanding the relationships between them and those related to the reaction environment can clarify problems related to their activity, the success of isolation and quantification, and the study of biological activity both in vitro and in vivo.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the perspectives of an unlimited research field that offers solutions or models for the optimal achievement of the benefits possessed by the plant kingdom.

Dr. Loredana Elena Elena Vijan
Prof. Dr. Mihai Botu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioactive compounds in horticultural plants
  • extraction techniques
  • processing technologies
  • antinutrients
  • prooxidant effect

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1801 KiB  
Article
The Production of Useful Phenol Compounds with Antioxidant Potential in Gametophytes and Sporophytes from In Vitro Cultures in Four Ornamental Ferns Species
by Elena Monica Mitoi, Florentina Aldea, Florența Elena Helepciuc, Alexandra-Gabriela Ciocan, Adina Frum, Diana Ionela Popescu, Oana Alexandra Luțu, Nicoleta Anca Șuțan and Liliana Cristina Soare
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080799 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate [...] Read more.
Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate their potential as secondary metabolites sources. For this study four fern species were used: Polypodium vulgare L. (PV), Asplenium trichomanes L. (AT), Athyrium filix-femina L. Roth (AF), and Osmunda regalis L. (OR). The polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids content and antioxidant activity were estimated by different colorimetric methods. For metabolite identification and their antioxidant activity, HP-TLC separations were used. Also, quantitative HPLC–DAD analysis was performed to estimate the content of certain metabolites. The results showed that in vitro generation of gametophytes registered higher growth rates in OR, PV, and AF, while the regeneration of sporophytes was better for PV, AT, and AF. The OR gametophyte produced the highest quantities in all analyzed metabolite classes and also had the highest antioxidant values. We report for the first time the presence of metabolites such as catechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, or rutin in OR. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of producing potent antioxidant metabolites by in vitro cultures in ferns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 3604 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Extraction Method of Bioactive Compounds from Elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) and Testing Extract Stability
by Oana-Elena Pascariu, Luís Guimarães Dias and Florentina Israel-Roming
Horticulturae 2024, 10(7), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070743 - 15 Jul 2024
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Phenolic compounds from elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) have attracted attention due to their potential health benefits. This paper examines different extraction methods used to obtain phenolic compounds from these fruits and the stability of the extracts. Several extraction techniques (extraction with continuous [...] Read more.
Phenolic compounds from elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) have attracted attention due to their potential health benefits. This paper examines different extraction methods used to obtain phenolic compounds from these fruits and the stability of the extracts. Several extraction techniques (extraction with continuous agitation, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, maceration, and enzyme-assisted extraction) were tested and compared to evaluate the yield and the quality of the extracts. The stability of the extracts with various storage parameters (time and temperature) and processing conditions (concentration and lyophilization) was also investigated. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) provided the highest yield of total phenolic compounds (74.89 mg GAE/g), of which 71.23% were represented by total anthocyanins and 62.50% by monomeric anthocyanins, with total flavonoids of 8.11–9.41 mg RUE/g. The analysis of individual phenolic compounds reconfirms the efficiency of UAE, obtaining 0.42–0.09 mg/g gallic acid, 0.59–0.01 mg/g chlorogenic acid, 0.17–0.03 mg/g 4-coumaric acid, and 2.43–0.01 mg/g rutin. The optimization of the extraction conditions led to the conclusion that the best solvent is 45% ethanol (v/v), and the optimal parameters are 40 °C for 40 min. It was also found that the stability of the extracts can be high during long periods of time (even after 180 days). These findings contribute to the understanding of the optimization of extraction processes and storage conditions to obtain extracts rich in phenolic compounds from elderberries, with potential uses in pharmaceutical and food applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1250 KiB  
Article
Effect of Foliar Selenate Supplementation on Biochemical Characteristics of Purslane Weed (Portulaca oleracea L.)
by Nadezhda Golubkina, Zarema Amagova, Viktor Kharchenko, Maria Bogachuk, Maria Makarenko, Maria Paleeva, Alexey Malinkin, Katherine Andreeva, Zulfia Kavarnakaeva, Visita Matsadze, Otilia Cristina Murariu and Gianluca Caruso
Horticulturae 2024, 10(7), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070708 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 553
Abstract
The high biological activity of cultivated and wild purslane offers broad possibilities for utilizing this plant in medicine and human nutrition. To assess the prospects of obtaining new functional food products based on the wild form of P. oleracea L., foliar biofortification of [...] Read more.
The high biological activity of cultivated and wild purslane offers broad possibilities for utilizing this plant in medicine and human nutrition. To assess the prospects of obtaining new functional food products based on the wild form of P. oleracea L., foliar biofortification of this species with sodium selenate (VI) was carried out, and the changes in leaf and seed biochemical characteristics were investigated. Selenium significantly enhanced plant yield, photosynthetic pigments and the ascorbic acid content, and showed a tendency to seed productivity increase. The application of selenium augmented quinic acid content in leaves by 1.7 times but did not affect the oxalic acid content. Oxalic acid prevailed in wild purslane and quinic acid in cultivated purslane (cv. Makovey). Seed oil in Se-enriched purslane was characterized by a two-fold decrease in saturated fatty acids and squalene and 2.3-fold decrease in malonic dialdehyde content, along with a 1.4-fold increase in ascorbic acid. Selenium supplementation resulted in an increase in total lipids and mono- and di-unsaturated fatty acids and did not affect the concentration of ω-3 fatty acids and sterol accumulation. Among the identified sterols, only the minor ones (fucosterol, 7-stigmasterol and ∆7-avenosterol) showed a slight decrease upon Se supply. Compared to seeds of cv. Makovey, wild purslane seeds had higher levels of antioxidant activity by a factor of 2 and of polyphenols by a factor of 3.2 but did not differ significantly in oil fatty acid composition. The results indicate the importance of wild purslane leaves/seeds both fortified and not fortified with Se in human nutrition and medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 2490 KiB  
Article
Enhancing the Nutritional Profile of Crataegus monogyna Fruits by Optimizing the Extraction Conditions
by Konstantina Kotsou, Dimitra Magopoulou, Theodoros Chatzimitakos, Vassilis Athanasiadis, Eleni Bozinou, Athanassios I. Sfougaris and Stavros I. Lalas
Horticulturae 2024, 10(6), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10060564 - 28 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 730
Abstract
Crataegus monogyna (CM) fruits are highly regarded for their rich nutritional content, boasting elevated levels of various beneficial secondary metabolites like total polyphenols, including anthocyanins, and ample amounts of ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity. Despite the acknowledged benefits of CM fruits, researchers have [...] Read more.
Crataegus monogyna (CM) fruits are highly regarded for their rich nutritional content, boasting elevated levels of various beneficial secondary metabolites like total polyphenols, including anthocyanins, and ample amounts of ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity. Despite the acknowledged benefits of CM fruits, researchers have directed more attention toward its leaves and flowers. Consequently, the current research attempts to optimize extraction techniques for CM fruit using a multifaceted approach involving varied durations, temperatures, and concentrations of ethanol solvent to isolate the diverse range of bioactive components present effectively. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) is employed for the identification and quantification of polyphenolic compounds. According to the results, by following the optimum extraction parameters (50% ethanolic solvent, 50 °C extraction temperature, and 60 min extraction time), the total polyphenol content can be increased up to 410%, reaching 55.59 mg gallic acid equivalents/g. Using 50% ethanolic solvent, 80 °C extraction temperature, and extraction time of 90 min, the total anthocyanin content can be enhanced by more than 560%, reaching a quantity of 51.83 μg cyanidin equivalents/g. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of CM fruit extracts can reach 415.95 μmol ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g dw (by FRAP method), using 50% ethanolic solvent, 50 °C extraction temperature, and 60 min extraction time, and 270.26 μmol AAE/g dw (by DPPH method) and 1053.28 mg/100 g dw ascorbic acid content, using 50% ethanolic solvent, 80 °C extraction temperature, and 90 min extraction time. This comprehensive study seeks to augment the already substantial content of bioactive compounds found in CM, resulting in an extract with promising applications across the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 3594 KiB  
Article
Influence of the Phytosanitary Status, Cultivar, and Harvest Time on the Phenolic, Chlorophyll, and Alkaloid Content of Rosa sp. Leaves
by Adelina Larisa Munteanu, Loredana Elena Vijan, Carmen Mihaela Topală and Rodi Mitrea
Horticulturae 2023, 9(11), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9111169 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
Diplocarpon rosae Wolf is the most common and damaging fungal pathogen in roses. Nationwide, the attack of this pathogenic fungus is very serious in most rose gardens due to rapid disease development that typically leads to leaf yellowing and defoliation. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Diplocarpon rosae Wolf is the most common and damaging fungal pathogen in roses. Nationwide, the attack of this pathogenic fungus is very serious in most rose gardens due to rapid disease development that typically leads to leaf yellowing and defoliation. This study aimed to assess the way in which the fungus’s attack affects the chemical composition of Rosa sp. leaves. The research was conducted in the summer of 2023 on ten cultivars of rose grown in the rosary in the ‘Alexandru Buia’ Botanical Garden in Craiova. The influence of the cultivar and harvest time was discussed. Leaf black spot on roses produced by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae Wolf affected plants in all cultivars and the differences between cultivars highlighted the sensitivity of the relationship between plants and pathogens when exposed to some microclimatic environment factors. The correlations of attack degree with tannins, chlorophyll, or alkaloids were significant, negative for tannins (r = −0.189 *) and chlorophyll (r = −0.517 ***) and positive for alkaloids (r = 0.510 ***). Between phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, and chlorophyll, very significant positive correlations were found. Alkaloids established negative and also very significant correlations with phenolic compounds (r = −0.403 ***), tannins (r = −0.339 ***), flavonoids (r = −0.409 ***), and chlorophyll (r = −0.604 ***). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants—2nd Edition)
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