Expression pattern of candidate genes and their correlation with various metabolites of abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway under drought stress in rice.

Drought hampers global rice production. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays versatile roles under different environmental stresses. While the link between drought and ABA is known, its effect on ABA biosynthesis genes and metabolites is unclear. This study explored the impact of drought on various metabolites, namely beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, and candidate genes viz. zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) and 9-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) of ABA biosynthesis pathway in rice cultivars (N22 and IR64) at anthesis {65 DAT (Days after transplanting)} with different stress levels. In stressed plants, zeaxanthin significantly increased (92%), while the concentration of beta-carotene, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin and neoxanthin decreased as drought stress progressed. The concentration of metabolites in roots was notably lower than in leaves in both genotypes. The ZEP expression was upregulated in roots (8.24-fold) under drought stress. Among five NCED isoforms, NCED3 showed significant upregulation (7.29-fold) in leaf and root tissue. NCED1 was significantly downregulated as stress progressed and was negatively correlated with ABA accumulation. NCED2, NCED4 and NCED5 showed no significant change in their expression. Drying and rolling of rice leaves was observed after imparting drought stress. The findings revealed that drought stress significantly influenced the expression of candidate genes and the concentration of metabolites of the ABA biosynthesis pathway. There was a significantly higher accumulation of ABA in N22 leaves (47%) and roots (30%) compared to IR64. The N22, a drought-tolerant genotype, exhibited significantly higher concentrations of intermediates and demonstrated increased expression of ZEP and NCED3, potentially contributing to its resilience against drought.

Recent developments in cold plasma-based enzyme activity (browning, cell wall degradation, and antioxidant) in fruits and vegetables.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations reports, approximately half of the total harvested fruits and vegetables vanish before they reach the end consumer due to their perishable nature. Enzymatic browning is one of the most common problems faced by fruit and vegetable processing. The perishability of fruits and vegetables is contributed by the various browning enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) and ripening or cell wall degrading enzyme (pectin methyl-esterase). In contrast, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) assist in reversing the damage caused by reactive oxygen species or free radicals. The cold plasma technique has emerged as a novel, economic, and environmentally friendly approach that reduces the expression of ripening and browning enzymes while increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes; microorganisms are significantly inhibited, therefore improving the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. This review narrates the mechanism and principle involved in the use of cold plasma technique as a nonthermal agent and its application in impeding the activity of browning and ripening enzymes and increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes for improving the shelf life and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables and preventing spoilage and pathogenic germs from growing. An overview of hurdles and sustainability advantages of cold plasma technology is presented.

Isolation and characterization of drought and ABA responsive promoter of a transcription factor encoding gene from rice.

Water deficit is a significant impediment to enhancing rice yield. Genetic engineering tools have enabled agriculture researchers to develop drought-tolerant cultivars of rice. A common strategy to achieve this involves expressing drought-tolerant genes driven by constitutive promoters such as CaMV35S. However, the use of constitutive promoters is often limited by the adverse effects it has on the growth and development of the plant. Additionally, it has been observed that monocot-derived promoters are more successful in driving gene expression in monocots than in dicots. Substitution of constitutive promoters with stress-inducible promoters is the currently used strategy to overcome this limitation. In the present study, a 1514 bp AP2/ERF promoter that drives the expression of a transcription factor was cloned and characterized from drought-tolerant Indian rice genotype N22. The AP2/ERF promoter was fused to the GUS gene (uidA) and transformed in Arabidopsis and rice plants. Histochemical GUS staining of transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed AP2/ERF promoter activity in roots, stems, and leaves. Water deficit stress and ABA upregulate promoter activity in transformed Arabidopsis and rice. Quantitative PCR for uidA expression confirmed induced GUS activity in Arabidopsis and rice. This study showed that water deficit inducible Os-AP2/ERF-N22 promoter can be used to overcome the limitations of constitutive promoters. Transformants overexpressing Os-AP2/ERF-N22 showed higher relative water content, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll stability index, wax content, osmotic potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate and radical scavenging activity. Drought tolerant (N22) showed higher expression of Os-AP2/ERF-N22 than the susceptible (MTU1010) cultivar. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01246-9.

Health-Promoting compounds in Potatoes: Tuber exhibiting great potential for human health.

Potatoes are consumed worldwide because of their high accessibility, low cost, taste, and diversity of cooking methods. The high carbohydrate content of potatoes masks the presence of -vitamins, polyphenols, minerals, amino acids, lectins and protein inhibitors in the minds of consumers. The consumption of potatoes faces challenges among health-conscious people. This review paper attempted to provide up-to-date information on new metabolites reported in potatoes that play role in disease prevention and overall human well-being. We tried to compile information on antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, antiobesity, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory potential of potato along with role in improving gut health and satiety. In-vitro studies, human cell culture, and experimental animal and human clinical studies showed potatoes to exhibit a variety of health-enhancing properties. This article will not only popularize potato as a healthy food, but will also improve its use as a staple for the foreseeable future.

Functional Fermented Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics from Non-Dairy Products: A Perspective from Nutraceutical.

The current trend of health-conscious consumers and healthy food habits prompts researchers to explore developing food products with synbiotic benefits. Synbiotic foods have gained popularity in recent years due to their functional, nutritional, physiological, and therapeutic characteristics. Lactose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and allergic milk proteins become the barriers in the development of dairy probiotics. The present scenario of an increase in the demand for vegetarian products leads to a rise in the consumption of non-dairy probiotics. Prebiotics like, resistant starch, inulin, and polyphenols are selectively used by gut microbiota to enhance the selection and colonization of probiotics bacteria. Probiotic's action mechanisms include the production of bacteriocins, peptides, short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and other metabolites. Therefore, this review article explores the alternative sources of probiotics so it will help to an understanding of non-dairy based functional fermented foods for both pro and prebiotics. Dietary fibers in vegetables, fruits, and cereals are one of prospective prebiotics and highlighted the various methods for making non-dairy synbiotics based on dietary fibers, such as microencapsulation, freeze-drying, and spray drying is also addressed.

Avocado seed discoveries: Chemical composition, biological properties, and industrial food applications.

The processing industry discards avocado seeds, which increases production and ultimately pollutes the environment. It would be advantageous to handle these waste by-products both economically and environmentally. Avocado seeds are rich in polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive substances. The nutritional and phytochemical composition of avocado seeds has been well studied and discussed. Avocado-seed extracts also have many health-related bioactive properties, such as anti-hyperglycaemic, anticancer, anti-hypercholesterolemia, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neurogenerative effects are clearly demonstrated how these properties can be used to formulate or fortify food. The health-promoting properties of avocado seeds have been studied. These properties are attributed to various phytochemicals, such as acetogenin, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, estragole, etc. Additionally, items made from valorized avocado seeds that people can consume have been explored. The best applications of valorized by-products have been created for the pharmaceutical, functional food, and nutraceutical sectors while considering quality and safety. More clinical testing and product development research are required to prove the effectiveness of avocado seeds.

Mechanistic Concept of Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of the Potato Crop to Heat and Drought Stress.

Most cultivated potatoes are tetraploid, and the tuber is the main economic part that is consumed due to its calorific and nutritional values. Recent trends in climate change led to the frequent occurrence of heat and drought stress in major potato-growing regions worldwide. The optimum temperature for tuber production is 15-20 °C. High-temperature and water-deficient conditions during the growing season result in several morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular alterations. The morphological changes under stress conditions may affect the process of stolon formation, tuberization, and bulking, ultimately affecting the tuber yield. This condition also affects the physiological responses, including an imbalance in the allocation of photoassimilates, respiration, water use efficiency, transpiration, carbon partitioning, and the source-sink relationship. The biochemical responses under stress conditions involve maintaining ionic homeostasis, synthesizing heat shock proteins, achieving osmolyte balance, and generating reactive oxygen species, ultimately affecting various biochemical pathways. Different networks that include both gene regulation and transcription factors are involved at the molecular level due to the combination of hot and water-deficient conditions. This article attempts to present an integrative content of physio-biochemical and molecular responses under the combined effects of heat and drought, prominent factors in climate change. Taking into account all of these aspects and responses, there is an immediate need for comprehensive screening of germplasm and the application of appropriate approaches and tactics to produce potato cultivars that perform well under drought and in heat-affected areas.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) seed: A low-volume, high-value byproduct for human health and the food industry.

Guava processing industries generate peel and seeds as primary waste fractions. Guava seeds obtained after fruit processing possess untapped potential in the field of food science due to the presence of a diversity of nutritional and bioactive compounds. Along with offering a detailed understanding of the nutritional attributes of guava seeds, the present review comprehensively elaborates on the therapeutic activities of their bioactive compounds, their techno-functional properties, and their other edible and nonedible applications. The limited molecular and biochemical mechanistic studies outlining the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, neuroprotective and antidiabetic activities of guava seeds available in the literature are also extensively discussed in this review. The use of guava seed constituents as food additives and food functional and structural modulators, primarily as fat reducers, emulsifiers, water and oil holding agents, is also conceptually explained. Additional human intervention and molecular mechanistic studies deciphering the effects of guava seeds on various diseases and human health are warranted.

Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Health-Promoting Effects of the Genus Bulbophyllum.

The genus Bulbophyllum is of scientific interest due to the phytochemical components and diverse biological activities found across species of the genus. Most Bulbophyllum species are epiphytic and located in habitats that range from subtropical dry forests to wet montane cloud forests. In many cultures, the genus Bulbophyllum has a religious, protective, ornamenting, cosmetic, and medicinal role. Detailed investigations into the molecular pharmacological mechanisms and numerous biological effects of Bulbophyllum spp. remain ambiguous. The review focuses on an in-depth discussion of studies containing data on phytochemistry and preclinical pharmacology. Thus, the purpose of this review was to summarize the therapeutic potential of Bulbophyllum spp. biocompounds. Data were collected from several scientific databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect, other professional websites, and traditional medicine books to obtain the necessary information. Evidence from pharmacological studies has shown that various phytoconstituents in some Bulbophyllum species have different biological health-promoting activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective. No toxicological effects have been reported to date. Future clinical trials are needed for the clinical confirmation of biological activities proven in preclinical studies. Although orchid species are cultivated for ornamental purposes and have a wide traditional use, the novelty of this review is a summary of biological actions from preclinical studies, thus supporting ethnopharmacological data.

An Insight into Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Nutritional Properties of Arbutus unedo L. from Morocco.

Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae) is an evergreen shrub widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, particularly through the Moroccan forests. It is an important medicinal plant of great scientific interest due to its nutritional, pharmacological, and chemical properties. The objective of this review is to provide insights into traditional medicinal uses and phytochemical and pharmacological properties of A. unedo from Morocco. In Morocco, the plant has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several pathological conditions. Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the plant, of which vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. Leaves and fruits of A. unedo contain the most significant number of phytochemicals among the species. Furthermore, researchers have demonstrated that A. unedo exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiaggregant, and antihypertensive activities due to the presence of many biochemical compounds with health-promoting properties. According to different toxicity tests, the use of A. unedo is devoid of any significant side effects and/or toxicity. Despite its nutraceutical and health-promoting properties, Moroccan A. unedo remains underexploited mainly, and most of its traditional uses have not yet undergone scientific evidence-based research; therefore, improved knowledge about the potential value of the plant would allow understanding of its biological activity based on its phytochemical compounds that may contribute to the species preservation and valorization.

Beneficial Role of Antioxidant Secondary Metabolites from Medicinal Plants in Maintaining Oral Health.

Plant-derived phytochemicals have been touted as viable substitutes in a variety of diseases. All over the world, dentists have turned to natural remedies for dental cure due to the negative possessions of certain antibacterial mediators used in dentistry. Antimicrobial and other drugs are currently in use, but they show some side effects. Since ancient times, antioxidant EOs have been used for different ailments and have grown in popularity over time. Several in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials have shown the safety and effectiveness of antioxidant essential oils (EOs) in oral health obtained from medicinal plants. The current review of literature provides a summary of secondary metabolites, more specifically EOs from 20 most commonly used medicinal plants and their applications in maintaining oral health. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common and preventable global infectious diseases, with diseases of the oral cavity being considered major diseases affecting a person's health. Several clinical studies have shown a connection between oral diseases and oral microbiota. This review discusses the role of antioxidant secondary metabolites in inhibiting the growth of oral pathogens and reducing the formation of dental plaque, and as well as reducing the symptoms of oral diseases. This review article contributes a basic outline of essential oils and their healing actions.

Effect of potato apical leaf curl disease on glycemic index and resistant starch of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers.

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV-potato) causes potato apical leaf curl disease which severely affects nutritional parameters such as carbohydrate, protein, and starch biosynthesis thereby altering glycemic index (GI) and resistant starch (RS) of potato. ToLCNDV-potato virus was inoculated on potato cultivars (Kufri Pukhraj [susceptible]; Kufri Bahar [resistant]) and various quality parameters of potato tuber were studied. There was a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in starch, amylose and resistant starch contents in the infected tubers. However, carbohydrate and amylopectin increased significantly (P < 0.01) which contributes to increased starch digestibility reflected with high GI and glycemic load values. Besides, ToLCNDV-potato infection leads to a significant increase in reducing sugar, sucrose, amino acid and protein in potato tubers. This is a first-ever study that highlights the impact of biotic stress on GI, RS and nutritional quality parameters of potato which is a matter of concern for consumers.

Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Biological Activities.

Annona squamosa L. (custard apple) belongs to the family Annonaceae and is an important tropical fruit cultivated in the West Indies, South and Central America, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, India, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Egypt. Leaves of custard apple plants have been studied for their health benefits, which are attributed to a considerable diversity of phytochemicals. These compounds include phenol-based compounds, e.g., proanthocyanidins, comprising 18 different phenolic compounds, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Extracts from Annona squamosa leaves (ASLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiobesity, lipid-lowering, and hepatoprotective functions. In the current article, we discussed the nutritional and phytochemical diversity of ASLs. Additionally, ASL extracts were discussed with respect to their biological activities, which were established by in vivo and in vitro experiments. A survey of the literature based on the phytochemical profile and health-promoting effects of ASLs showed that they can be used as potential ingredients for the development of pharmaceutical drugs and functional foods. Although there are sufficient findings available from in vitro and in vivo investigations, clinical trials are still needed to determine the exact effects of ASL extracts on human health.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Bioactivities.

Psidium guajava (L.) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and it is an important fruit in tropical areas like India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South America. The leaves of the guava plant have been studied for their health benefits which are attributed to their plethora of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, avicularin, apigenin, guaijaverin, kaempferol, hyperin, myricetin, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, and caffeic acid. Extracts from guava leaves (GLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, lipid-lowering, and hepatoprotection activities. In the present review, we comprehensively present the nutritional profile and phytochemical profile of GLs. Further, various bioactivities of the GL extracts are also discussed critically. Considering the phytochemical profile and beneficial effects of GLs, they can potentially be used as an ingredient in the development of functional foods and pharmaceuticals. More detailed clinical trials need to be conducted to establish the efficacy of the GL extracts.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Bioactivities.

Mangifera indica L. belongs to the family of Anacardiaceae and is an important fruit from South and Southeast Asia. India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the Philippines are among the top mango producer countries. Leaves of the mango plant have been studied for their health benefits, which are attributed to a plethora of phytochemicals such as mangiferin, followed by phenolic acids, benzophenones, and other antioxidants such as flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and tocopherols. The extracts from mango leaves (MLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-obesity, lipid-lowering, hepato-protection, and anti-diarrheal. In the present review, we have elaborated on the nutritional and phytochemical profile of the MLs. Further, various bioactivities of the ML extracts are also critically discussed. Considering the phytochemical profile and beneficial effects of the MLs, they can be used as a potential ingredient for the development of functional foods and pharmaceutical drugs. However, more detailed clinical trials still needed to be conducted for establishing the actual efficacy of the ML extracts.

Delineating the inherent functional descriptors and biofunctionalities of pectic polysaccharides.

Pectin is a plant-based heteropolysaccharide macromolecule predominantly found in the cell wall of plants. Pectin is commercially extracted from apple pomace, citrus peels and sugar beet pulp and is widely used in the food industry as a stabilizer, emulsifier, encapsulant, and gelling agent. This review highlights various parameters considered important for describing the inherent properties and biofunctionalities of pectins in food systems. These inherent descriptors include monosaccharide composition, galacturonic acid content, degree of esterification, molecular weight, structural morphology, functional group analysis, and functional properties, such as water and oil holding capacity, emulsification, foaming capacity, foam stability, and viscosity. In this study, we also delineate their potential as a nutraceutical, prebiotic, and carrier for bioactive compounds. The biofunctionalities of pectin as an anticancer, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and antidiabetic agent are also conceptually elaborated in the current review. The multidimensional characteristics of pectin make it a potential candidate for use in food and biomedical science.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Bioactives and Its Role in Alleviating Oral Pathologies.

Garlic (Allium sativa L.) is a bulbous flowering plant belongs to the family of Amaryllidaceae and is a predominant horticultural crop originating from central Asia. Garlic and its products are chiefly used for culinary and therapeutic purposes in many countries. Bulbs of raw garlic have been investigated for their role in oral health, which are ascribed to a myriad of biologically active compounds such as alliin, allicin, methiin, S-allylcysteine (SAC), diallyl sulfide (DAS), S-ally-mercapto cysteine (SAMC), diallyl disulphide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) and methyl allyl disulphide. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA statement. Scopus, PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Science direct databases were searched between 12 April 2021 to 4 September 2021. A total of 148 studies were included and the qualitative synthesis phytochemical profile of GE, biological activities, therapeutic applications of garlic extract (GE) in oral health care system, and its mechanism of action in curing various oral pathologies have been discussed. Furthermore, the safety of incorporation of GE as food supplements is also critically discussed. To conclude, GE could conceivably make a treatment recourse for patients suffering from diverse oral diseases.

Evaluation of Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Mineral Composition of Selected Medicinal Plants for Therapeutic Uses from Cold Desert of Western Himalaya.

The aim of this study was to determine the elemental and nutritive values of leaf parts of 10 selected wild medicinal plants, Acer pictum, Acer caecium, Betula utilis, Oxalis corniculata, Euphorbia pilosa, Heracleum lanatum, Urtica dioica, Berberis lycium, Berberis asiaticaand, and Quercus ilex, collected from the high hills of the Chitkul range in district Kinnaur, Western Himalaya. The nutritional characteristics of medicinal plant species were analyzed by using muffle furnace and micro-Kjeldahl methods, and the mineral content in plants was analyzed through atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest percentage of used value was reported in Betula utilis (0.42) and the lowest in Quercus ilex (0.17). In this study, it was found that new generations are not much interested in traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants due to modernization in society. Therefore, there is an urgent need to document ethnomedicinal plants along with their phytochemical and minerals analysis in study sites. It was found that rural people in western Himalaya are dependent on wild medicinal plants, and certain steps must be taken to conserve these plants from extinction in the cold desert of Himalayan region. They are an alternative source of medicine because they contain saponin, alkaloid, and flavonoid etc. as well as minerals. The leaves used for analysis possesses good mineral content, such as Na, N, K, P, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg, and S. Hence, in the current study it was observed that medicinal plants are not only used for therapeutic purposes, but they can also be used as nutritional supplements.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seed: A review on bioactives and biomedical activities.

The processing of tomato fruit into puree, juices, ketchup, sauces, and dried powders generates a significant amount of waste in the form of tomato pomace, which includes seeds and skin. Tomato processing by-products, particularly seeds, are reservoirs of health-promoting macromolecules, such as proteins (bioactive peptides), carotenoids (lycopene), polysaccharides (pectin), phytochemicals (flavonoids), and vitamins (α-tocopherol). Health-promoting properties make these bioactive components suitable candidates for the development of novel food and nutraceutical products. This review comprehensively demonstrates the bioactive compounds of tomato seeds along with diverse biomedical activities of tomato seed extract (TSE) for treating cardiovascular ailments, neurological disorders, and act as antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial agent. Utilization of bioactive components can improve the economic feasibility of the tomato processing industry and may help to reduce the environmental pollution generated by tomato by-products.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used in the Health Care System: Survey of the Mid Hills of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The study was performed in the mid hills of the Dharampur region in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. At the study site, a total of 115 medicinal plants were documented (38 trees, 37 herbs, 34 shrubs, 5 climbers, 1 fern, and 1 grass). In the study region, extensive field surveys were performed between March 2020 and August 2021. Indigenous knowledge of wild medicinal plants was collected through questionnaires, discussions, and personal interviews during field trips. Plants with their correct nomenclature were arranged by botanical name, family, common name, habitat, parts used, routes used, and diseases treated. In the present study, the predominant family was Rosaceae, which represented the maximum number of plant species, 10, followed by Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, which represented 8 plant species. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region in the Solan district have been using local plants for primary health care and the treatment of various diseases for a longer time. However, information related to the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants was not documented. The rural inhabitants of the Dharampur region reported that the new generation is not so interested in traditional knowledge of medicinal plants due to modernization in society, so there is an urgent need to document ethnomedicinal plants before such knowledge becomes inaccessible and extinct.