A risk-based approach for the safety analysis of eight trace elements in Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica parachinensis L.) in China.

BACKGROUND: Most countries set regulatory values for the total trace element (TE) concentrations in soil, although there is growing interest in using a risk-based approach to evaluate the bioavailable TE using dilute salt extractants or other soil parameters, including pH and organic carbon. The present study compares the current regulatory system (based on total TEs and pH) and a risk-based approach using 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 to estimate the bioavailable fraction. RESULTS: In total, 150 paired samples of Chinese flowering cabbages (Brassica parachinensis) and their growth soils were collected, and the total and extractable concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg), as well as soil pH and organic matter content, were measured. No more than 3.33% of the edible parts exceeded Chinese food safety standards, even when growing in soils exceeding the current regulatory thresholds by over 50%. The total soil Cd (1.5 mg kg-1 ), as well as the extractable concentrations of Cd (0.1 mg kg-1 ), Ni (0.03 mg kg-1 ) and Zn (0.1 mg kg-1 ), are the key factors affecting the TE concentrations in B. parachinensis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the current soil regulatory guidelines for safe production of B. parachinensis are overly strict and conservative. A risk-based approach based on the extractable TE concentrations would provide a better indication for plant uptake of soil TEs and avoid the waste of farmlands that can still produce safe vegetables. Future research should focus on providing crop-specific available TE concentration guidelines to promote effective utilization of farmlands. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Agronomic iodine biofortification of leafy vegetables grown in Vertisols, Oxisols and Alfisols.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in sub-Saharan African countries are related to low dietary I intake and generally combatted through salt iodisation. Agronomic biofortification of food crops may be an alternative approach. This study assessed the effectiveness of I biofortification of green vegetables (Brassica napus L and Amaranthus retroflexus L.) grown in tropical soils with contrasting chemistry and fertility. Application rates of 0, 5 and 10 kg ha-1 I applied to foliage or soil were assessed. Leaves were harvested fortnightly for ~ 2 months after I application before a second crop was grown to assess the availability of residual soil I. A separate experiment was used to investigate storage of I within the plants. Iodine concentration and uptake in sequential harvests showed a sharp drop within 28 days of I application in all soil types for all I application levels and methods. This rapid decline likely reflects I fixation in the soil. Iodine biofortification increased I uptake and concentration in the vegetables to a level useful for increasing dietary I intake and could be a feasible way to reduce IDD in tropical regions. However, biofortification of green vegetables which are subject to multiple harvests requires repeated I applications.

Association between overall fruit and vegetable intake, and fruit and vegetable sub-types and blood pressure: the PRIME study (Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction).

Increased fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is associated with reduced blood pressure (BP). However, it is not clear whether the effect of FV on BP depends on the type of FV consumed. Furthermore, there is limited research regarding the comparative effect of juices or whole FV on BP. Baseline data from a prospective cohort study of 10 660 men aged 50-59 years examined not only the cross-sectional association between total FV intake but also specific types of FV and BP in France and Northern Ireland. BP was measured, and dietary intake assessed using FFQ. After adjusting for confounders, both systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were significantly inversely associated with total fruit, vegetable and fruit juice intake; however, when examined according to fruit or vegetable sub-type (citrus fruit, other fruit, fruit juices, cooked vegetables and raw vegetables), only the other fruit and raw vegetable categories were consistently associated with reduced SBP and DBP. In relation to the risk of hypertension based on SBP >140 mmHg, the OR for total fruit, vegetable and fruit juice intake (per fourth) was 0·95 (95 % CI 0·91, 1·00), with the same estimates being 0·98 (95 % CI 0·94, 1·02) for citrus fruit (per fourth), 1·02 (95 % CI 0·98, 1·06) for fruit juice (per fourth), 0·93 (95 % CI 0·89, 0·98) for other fruit (per fourth), 1·05 (95 % CI 0·99, 1·10) for cooked vegetable (per fourth) and 0·86 (95 % CI 0·80, 0·91) for raw vegetable intakes (per fourth). Similar results were obtained for DBP. In conclusion, a high overall intake of fruit, vegetables and fruit juice was inversely associated with SBP, DBP and risk of hypertension, but this differed by FV sub-type, suggesting that the strength of the association between FV sub-types and BP might be related to the type consumed, or to processing or cooking-related factors.

Avaliação in vitro e in vivo do potencial imunomodulador de frações polissacarídicas extraídas do chuchu / In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the immunomodulatory potential of polysaccharide fractions extracted from chayote

Os polissacarídeos não amido constituem importante parcela das fibras dietéticas, e podem ser considerados modificadores de resposta biológica (MRBs), uma vez que são capazes de interagir com o sistema imune, e suas características estruturais estão atreladas aos efeitos biológicos gerados. O potencial imunomodulador dos polissacarídeos do chuchu já foi demonstrado, entretanto, informações sobre suas características estruturais e sua relação com o perfil imunológico são limitadas a ensaios in vitro, não havendo, até o momento, estudos in vivo. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar, in vitro e in vivo, o perfil imunomodulador de frações isoladas do polissacarídeo do chuchu. Por meio da filtração tangencial foram obtidas as frações de estudo, SeRI<50 e SeSE<50, respectivamente as frações isoladas do polissacarídeo do chuchu extraídas do resíduo insolúvel e do sobrenadante pós-tratamento enzimático para retirada do amido com peso molecular menor que 50 kDa. A caracterização por meio da determinação da composição monossacarídica e da análise de ligação apontou que ambas as frações são formadas por galacturonanos, arabinanos, arabinogalactanos e glicomananos. A SeRI<50 é menos ramificada e, provavelmente, composta por galactanos, enquanto SeSE<50 é mais ramificada e, provavelmente, composta por galactuglucomananos. Essas frações foram capazes de estimular os macrófagos murinos RAW 264.7 e as células mononucleares do baço, do sangue e do intestino delgado de camundongos Balb/c, sugerindo um perfil de ação mais pró-inflamatório, com base nos efeitos produzidos pelas espécies reativas de oxigênio, citocinas e pelos marcadores de ativação de linfócitos. Ambas as amostras, SeRI<50 e SeSE<50, mostraram ser eficientes em ativar a cascata imunológica, não sendo citotóxicas mesmo com a maior concentração testada no ensaio in vitro

Non-starch polysaccharides are important components of dietary fibers, and they may be considered biological response modifiers (MRBs), as they may interact with the immune system, depending on their structural characteristics. The immunomodulatory potential of chayote polysaccharides has already been demonstrated, however, information on their structural characteristics and their relationship with the immunological profile are limited to in vitro assays, with no reports on in vivo studies. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate, in vitro and in vivo, the immunomodulatory profile of polysaccharide from chayote. Through tangential filtration two fractions, SeRI <50 and SeSE <50, were obtained, respectively the fraction isolated from the chayote polysaccharide extracted from the insoluble residue and the fraction from the enzymatic post-treatment supernatant to remove starch, both under molecular weight 50 kDa. The monosaccharide composition and linkage analysis showed that both fractions are formed by galacturonans, arabinans, arabinogalactans and glycomanans. SeRI <50 is less branched and probably composed of galactans, while SeSE <50 is more branched and probably composed of galactuglucomannans. These fractions were able to stimulate murine macrophages RAW 264.7 and mononuclear cells of the spleen, blood and small intestine of Balb / c mice, suggesting a more proinflammatory action profile, based on the reactive oxygen species production, cytokines and lymphocyte activation markers. Both samples, SeRI <50 and SeSE <50, were able to efficiently activate the immunological cascade, not being cytotoxic even at the highest concentration tested in the in vitro assay

Suitability of DNA Sequencing Tools for Identifying Edible Seaweeds Sold in the United States.

Seaweeds have been consumed by billions of people around the world and are increasingly popular in United States (US) diets. Some seaweed species have been associated with adverse health effects-such as heavy metal toxicity-and higher priced seaweeds may be more prone to adulteration. Knowing which species of seaweeds are being marketed in the US is important for protecting human health and preventing economic adulteration. Therefore, the United States Food and Drug Administration is developing new DNA-based species identification tools to complement established chemical methods for verifying the accurate labeling of products. Here, seaweed products available in the United States were surveyed using a tiered approach to evaluate a variety of DNA extraction techniques followed by traditional DNA barcoding via Sanger sequencing; if needed, genome skimming of total extracted nuclear DNA via next-generation sequencing was performed. This two-tiered approach of DNA barcoding and genome skimming could identify most seaweed samples (41/46), even those in blends (2/2, 1 out of 3 labeled species in each). Only two commercial samples appeared to be mislabeled or to contain unintended algal species. Five samples, labeled as "hijiki" or "arame", could not be confirmed by these DNA-based identification methods.

Developments and Prospects in Imperative Underexploited Vegetable Legumes Breeding: A Review.

Vegetable legumes are an essential source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, along with health-promoting bioactive chemicals. The demand for the use of either fresh or processed vegetable legumes is continually expanding on account of the growing consumer awareness about their well-balanced diet. Therefore, sustaining optimum yields of vegetable legumes is extremely important. Here we seek to present d etails of prospects of underexploited vegetable legumes for food availability, accessibility, and improved livelihood utilization. So far research attention was mainly focused on pulse legumes' performance as compared to vegetable legumes. Wild and cultivated vegetable legumes vary morphologically across diverse habitats. This could make them less known, underutilized, and underexploited, and make them a promising potential nutritional source in developing nations where malnutrition still exists. Research efforts are required to promote underexploited vegetable legumes, for improving their use to feed the ever-increasing population in the future. In view of all the above points, here we have discussed underexploited vegetable legumes with tremendous potential; namely, vegetable pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), thereby covering the progress related to various aspects such as pre-breeding, molecular markers, quantitative trait locus (QTLs), genomics, and genetic engineering. Overall, this review has summarized the information related to advancements in the breeding of vegetable legumes which will ultimately help in ensuring food and nutritional security in developing nations.

The secret of health in daily cuisine: typical healthy vegetables in local markets in central Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Central Myanmar is located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, and the Bamar people are the main ethnic group, which settled there over 1000 years ago. Despite being the core region of the country, central Myanmar has been ignored in previous ethnobotanical studies. Local healthy foods and knowledge are regarded as treasures for resource development and pharmaceutical drug discovery, and market surveys are a good strategy in ethnobotanical research. Thus, we collected and documented typical vegetables and local knowledge in local markets and then analysed the diversity and local knowledge of these vegetables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observations and interviews were used in the field study, and 10 markets and fairs were selected in central Myanmar. A total of 277 vegetable stalls or shops were visited. We compared the local knowledge we collected with selected important and typical herbal books on traditional Myanmar medicine. Quantitative analysis, including frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC) and use value (UV), was used to assess the diversity and local knowledge of these vegetables. RESULTS: A total of 132 plant taxa from 47 botanical families and 116 genera were collected. Most (106 taxa, 80.3%) of these vegetables were cited by the informants as functional foods that had health benefits, while others were regarded as merely "good for health". The main health function of the vegetables was treating digestive problems. Sixty-four species were recorded in selected herbal books on traditional Myanmar medicine, and forty-seven taxa were not recorded in these books but were nonetheless used as healthy vegetables by local people. Twenty-eight species of vegetables were collected from wild places. CONCLUSION: The diversity and local knowledge of healthy vegetables in central Myanmar were rich. Nevertheless, the diversity of wild vegetables was seemingly relatively low. The possible reason was that we counted only the vegetables that were from entirely wild sources as "wild vegetables". The most frequently cited vegetables were commonly cultivated species, which reflects the fact that plants cultivated on a large scale comprise the major source of vegetables. Some lesser known vegetables could reflect the unique food culture of local people, but most of these were cited only a few times by the interviewees, which caused low UV and RFC rankings for them in the league table. In addition, future research should pay more attention to the food safety of these vegetables.

Determination of the Geographical Origin of Asparagus officinalis L. by 1H NMR Spectroscopy.

Food authenticity concerning the geographical origin becomes increasingly important for consumers, food industries, and food authorities. In this study, nontargeted 1H NMR metabolomics combined with machine learning methodologies was applied to successfully distinguish the geographical origin of 237 samples of white asparagus from Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and Peru. Support vector classification of the geographical origin achieved an accuracy of 91.5% for the entire sample set and 87.8% after undersampling the majority class. Important regions of the spectra could be identified and assigned to potential chemical markers. A subset of samples was compared to isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), an established method for the determination of origin of white asparagus in Germany. Here, SVM classification led to accuracies of 79.4% for NMR and 70.9% for IRMS. Finally, the classification of asparagus from different German regions was evaluated, and the influence of year and variety was analyzed.

Relation of Different Fruit and Vegetable Sources With Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Background Public health policies reflect concerns that certain fruit sources may not have the intended benefits and that vegetables should be preferred to fruit. We assessed the relation of fruit and vegetable sources with cardiovascular outcomes using a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Methods and Results MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched through June 3, 2019. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale). Data were pooled (fixed effects), and heterogeneity (Cochrane-Q and I2) and certainty of the evidence (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) were assessed. Eighty-one cohorts involving 4 031 896 individuals and 125 112 cardiovascular events were included. Total fruit and vegetables, fruit, and vegetables were associated with decreased cardiovascular disease (risk ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.89-0.96]; 0.91 [0.88-0.95]; and 0.94 [0.90-0.97], respectively), coronary heart disease (0.88 [0.83-0.92]; 0.88 [0.84-0.92]; and 0.92 [0.87-0.96], respectively), and stroke (0.82 [0.77-0.88], 0.82 [0.79-0.85]; and 0.88 [0.83-0.93], respectively) incidence. Total fruit and vegetables, fruit, and vegetables were associated with decreased cardiovascular disease (0.89 [0.85-0.93]; 0.88 [0.86-0.91]; and 0.87 [0.85-0.90], respectively), coronary heart disease (0.81 [0.72-0.92]; 0.86 [0.82-0.90]; and 0.86 [0.83-0.89], respectively), and stroke (0.73 [0.65-0.81]; 0.87 [0.84-0.91]; and 0.94 [0.90-0.99], respectively) mortality. There were greater benefits for citrus, 100% fruit juice, and pommes among fruit sources and allium, carrots, cruciferous, and green leafy among vegetable sources. No sources showed an adverse association. The certainty of the evidence was "very low" to "moderate," with the highest for total fruit and/or vegetables, pommes fruit, and green leafy vegetables. Conclusions Fruits and vegetables are associated with cardiovascular benefit, with some sources associated with greater benefit and none showing an adverse association. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03394339.

A Scoping Review of the Operationalization of Fruit and Vegetable Variety.

Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is critical for healthy growth and development. Less is known about fruit and vegetable variety, with variation in operationalization of variety. This review aims to identify currently available evidence operationalizing fruit and vegetable (FV) variety through a scoping review to summarize, compare, and critically evaluate the operationalization of variety. A secondary aim is to examine the implications of measuring FV variety and outcomes including dietary quality/nutrient intake. PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO were searched using the following criteria: (1) human study participants ages 2 years and above; (2) assessment of fruit variety consumption, vegetable variety consumption, or combined fruit and vegetable variety consumption; and (3) peer-reviewed publication available in the English language. Etiologic, intervention, and determinant studies were eligible to be included, and 47 studies met inclusion criteria. Differences in operationalization of variety were found. Findings included associations of FV variety with aspects of nutrient intake, dietary behaviors, lifestyle behaviors, and health outcomes. There were no studies that assessed conventionally grown produce vs. organic produce, and none of the included studies assessed cultivar. Nonstandard classification of fruit and vegetables, differences in fruit and vegetables grown in other countries, and the restriction to studies published in the English language may have excluded studies examining variety published in languages other than English. Operationalization of variety should be reported to allow one to explore comparability across studies, use national or international guidelines for greater comparability, associate variety with nutrient intake, and change variety behaviors via intervention.

On the performance of fusion based planet-scope and Sentinel-2 data for crop classification using inception inspired deep convolutional neural network.

This research work aims to develop a deep learning-based crop classification framework for remotely sensed time series data. Tobacco is a major revenue generating crop of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan, with over 90% of the country's Tobacco production. In order to analyze the performance of the developed classification framework, a pilot sub-region named Yar Hussain is selected for experimentation work. Yar Hussain is a tehsil of district Swabi, within KP province of Pakistan, having highest contribution to the gross production of the KP Tobacco crop. KP generally consists of a diverse crop land with different varieties of vegetation, having similar phenology which makes crop classification a challenging task. In this study, a temporal convolutional neural network (TempCNNs) model is implemented for crop classification, while considering remotely sensed imagery of the selected pilot region with specific focus on the Tobacco crop. In order to improve the performance of the proposed classification framework, instead of using the prevailing concept of utilizing a single satellite imagery, both Sentinel-2 and Planet-Scope imageries are stacked together to assist in providing more diverse features to the proposed classification framework. Furthermore, instead of using a single date satellite imagery, multiple satellite imageries with respect to the phenological cycle of Tobacco crop are temporally stacked together which resulted in a higher temporal resolution of the employed satellite imagery. The developed framework is trained using the ground truth data. The final output is obtained as an outcome of the SoftMax function of the developed model in the form of probabilistic values, for the classification of the selected classes. The proposed deep learning-based crop classification framework, while utilizing multi-satellite temporally stacked imagery resulted in an overall classification accuracy of 98.15%. Furthermore, as the developed classification framework evolved with specific focus on Tobacco crop, it resulted in best Tobacco crop classification accuracy of 99%.

Nutritional assay Pereskia spp.: unconventional vegetable.

Pereskia grandifolia Haworth (PGH) and Pereskia aculeata Miller (PAM) are recognized sources of proteins; dietary fiber; vitamins and minerals make this plant leaves, raw, cooked, and braised, an important ally against protein and micronutrient deficiencies. One of the main problems is the presence of antinutritional factors that may interfere in the digestibility and bioavailability of some nutrients. The objective was to evaluate the amino acid profile and the chemical score of the raw leaves and the effects of heating media and time on the total dietary fiber, minerals, trypsin inhibition, oxalic acid and tannins of leaves of PGH and PAM. The samples had similar amino acid profiles and total dietary fiber. With regard to antinutritional compounds, heating the leaves of PGH led to a decrease in trypsin inhibition, primarily after the first minutes of wet cooking. Oxalic acid and tannins predominated in both species. Considering the interaction with time, the variables related to iron and zinc minimized the tannin responses in PGH and PAM, respectively. Heating media and times interfered with the chemical components present in the leaves of Pereskia species and led to high antinutrient retention after heat treatment.

Vegetables.

Vegetables come in varied colors, forms, and tastes. Health specialists highly encourage inclusion of vegetables in one's diet due to their inherent nutritional worth. This chapter will cover selected vegetables from wide-ranging families like roots, stems, leafy greens, and cruciferous varieties. The broad choice of the designated vegetables is predicated on popular household preferences, nourishing value, and health benefits. These vegetables are also in common use and are obtainable at the market. The health features of the vegetables are covered in such a way that they provide the distinctive phytonutrient quality coupled with prominent health findings.

Leisure-time Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Young Adult Millennials.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) behaviors and to examine relationships between biological, sociocultural, and psychological personal factors and these behaviors among young adult Millennials aged 20 years to 32 years. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of the 1,137 respondents, 47% met the recommendations for LTPA, and only 13% and 17% met the recommendations for intake of fruits and vegetables, respectively. Engagement in LTPA was associated with being male, race/ethnicity, and increased education and income. Obesity, measured by body mass index, and poor perceived health status were associated with not meeting the recommendations for LTPA. Increased education was associated with meeting the recommendations for vegetable intake. No other regression models were significant. These findings suggest contemporary young adults would benefit from health promotion efforts.

Agrupación nutricional de las frutas y hortalizas en Venezuela / Nutritional grouping of fruits and vegetables in Venezuela

La falta de una clasificación única para las frutas y hortalizas (FyH) representa un reto al establecer recomendaciones o realizar evaluaciones de su consumo. Por ello, este estudio tiene como objetivo examinar la agrupación de las FyH en Venezuela, considerando únicamente su composición nutricional, en pro de ofrecer criterios científicos que puedan ayudar a establecer posteriormente una clasificación apropiada. Se trata de una investigación descriptiva y transversal que utilizó como fuente secundaria a los valores nutricionales presentados en la Tabla de Composición de Alimentos venezolana. Se compararon los aportes nutricionales de 73 frutas y 47 hortalizas, contra otros 27 alimentos de 8 grupos considerados como suplementarios. Se realizó una comparación entre los grupos de alimentos con la prueba ANOVA, una comparación entre las FyH a través de un análisis de componentes principales y se establecieron grupos de FyH a través del análisis por conglomerados. Se encontró que las FyH se distinguen significativamente de los otros grupos de alimentos, por su alto contenido de agua >80% y ácido ascórbico >35%, con un bajo aporte de proteínas <2% y grasas <1% (p<0,05). Se establecieron 5 grupos de FyH, de los cuales 2 distaron significativamente del promedio por su alto contenido de grasa, sodio o carbohidratos. Los hallazgos sugieren que el aporte nutricional pareciera no ser un factor concluyente para diferenciar entre las frutas y las hortalizas. En conclusión, establecer una clasificación definitiva de FyH considerando únicamente su aporte nutricional, sería limitado, ya que podrían ser muchos otros los factores intervinientes(AU)

The lack of a single classification for fruits and vegetables (F&V) represents a challenge when is necessary establishing recommendations or evaluating their consumption. This study aims to examine the grouping of F&V in Venezuela, considering only their nutritional composition, in order to offer scientific criteria that can help to establish an appropriate classification later. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional investigation that used as a secondary source the nutritional values presented in the Venezuelan Food Composition Table. The nutritional contributions of 73 fruits and 47 vegetables were compared against another 27 foods of 8 groups considered as supplementary. A comparison was made between the food groups with the ANOVA test, a comparison between the F&V through a principal component analysis and F&V groups were established through the cluster analysis. It was found that F&V are major distinguished from other food groups, due to their high-water content >80% and ascorbic acid >35%, with a low protein content <2% and fat <1% (p <0, 05). 5 F&V groups were established, of which 2 were significantly different from the average due to their high content of fat, sodium or carbohydrates. The findings suggest that the nutritional contribution appears not to be a conclusive factor to differentiate between fruits and vegetables. In conclusion, establishing a definitive classification of FyH considering only its nutritional contribution would be limited, since there could be many other factors involved(AU)

Macrophage activation by edible mushrooms is due to the collaborative interaction of toll-like receptor agonists and dectin-1b activating beta glucans derived from colonizing microorganisms.

Research supports the theory that the microbiome of plants and mushrooms produce potent activators of pathogen recognition receptors which are principal contributors to the stimulation of macrophages. We have previously reported that the in vitro macrophage stimulatory activity of water-soluble extracts from 13 different types of edible mushrooms is predominantly due to bacterial components originating from the naturally occurring bacterial communities within these materials. The purpose of the current study was to further investigate the bacterial-dependent activity of the water-soluble extracts and assess whether these 13 types of mushrooms contain water-insoluble beta glucans that activate the dectin-1b signaling pathway. Activity of the water-soluble extracts was predominantly due to Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 agonists. For dectin-1b-dependent activity (indicative of water-insoluble beta glucans), culinary mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus varieties) were essentially inactive, whereas most of the medicinal mushrooms (Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa, Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties, Flammulina velutipes) exhibited potent activation. A. bisporus samples with no detectable dectin-1b-dependent activity had yeast colony forming units that were 687 times lower than L. edodes exhibiting high activity, indicating that the active insoluble beta glucans are derived from colonizing yeast. In addition, co-stimulation of macrophages with the TLR agonists and insoluble beta glucan was found to result in a synergistic enhancement of in vitro cytokine production. Taken together, these findings indicate that the in vitro macrophage activating potential of edible mushrooms is due to the collaborative interaction of water-soluble TLR agonists (derived from colonizing bacteria) and water-insoluble beta glucans (derived from colonizing yeast).

Contenido de oligoelementos y factores antinutricionales de hojas comestibles nativas de Mesoamérica / Content of trace elements and antinutritional factors in edible leaves native to Mesoamerica

Los oligoelementos son importantes constituyentes nutricionales de las hierbas comestibles. Se colectaron 11 especies, nueve nativas (Amaranthus hybridus, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Crotalaria longirostrata, Dysphania ambrosioides, Lycianthes synanthera, Sechium edule, Solanum americanum, S. nigrescens, S. wendlandii) y dos introducidas (Moringa oleifera, Spinacea oleracea) en dos regiones de Guatemala. Se prepararon muestras de la hierba seca, cocida y de caldo de hierba fresca. Se cuantificaron por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica los macro (N, P, K) y oligoelementos (Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn), taninos por espectrofotometría y oxalatos por permanganimetría. El contenido de oligoelementos es diverso, para Zn, la hierba control S. oleracea contienen buena cantidad (90-140 ppm); de las nativas D. ambrosioides (130-160 ppm) y A. hybridus (70-80 ppm) tienen la mayor cantidad. Respecto a Fe las hierbas control tienen buena composición (S. oleracea, 220-280 ppm y M. oleifera, 105-135 ppm); de las nativas A. hybridus (90-240 ppm), C. aconitifolius (75-185 ppm) y L. synanthera (75-140 ppm) tienen buenas concentraciones. Se encontraron niveles elevados de oxalatos en S. oleracea (67.30 (5.51) mg/g), L. synanthera (56.30 (9.67) mg/g) y S. nigrescens (33.6 (5.48) mg/g); en las demás hierbas se encontraron niveles menores. Los niveles de taninos fueron bajos (0.1-0.8 mg/g) para todas las especies. Se demuestra que cuatro especies nativas tienen un buen contenido de oligoelementos y presentan valores menores de antinutricionales que los controles.

Trace elements are important nutritional constituents from edible herbs. Eleven species were collected in two regions of Guatemala, nine native (Amaranthus hybridus, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Crotalaria longirostrata, Dysphania ambrosioides, Lycianthes synanthera, Sechium edule, Solanum americanum, S. nigrescens, S. wendlandii) and two introduced (Moringa oleifera, Spinacea oleracea). Dry, cooked and broth samples were prepared. By atomic absorption spectrometry, macro (N, P, K) and trace elements (Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn) were quantified, tannins by spectrophotometry, and oxalates by permanganometry. Trace elements content is diverse, for Zn, control herb S. oleracea contained high quantity (90-140 ppm); from the natives D. ambrosioides (130-160 ppm) and A. hybridus (70-80 ppm) contained high amounts. For Fe, control herbs had high composition (S. oleracea, 220-280 ppm, M. oleifera, 105-135 ppm); from the natives A. hybridus (90-240 ppm), C. aconitifolius (75-185 ppm) and L. synanthera (75-140 ppm) had the highest amounts. High levels of oxalates were demonstrated in S. oleracea (67.30 (5.48) mg/g), L. synanthera (56.30 (9.67) mg/g), and S. nigrescens (33.6 (5.48) mg/g); from the others levels.

Monotony in the consumption of fruits and vegetables and food environment characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quantity and diversity in the consumption fruits and vegetables, as well as its relationship with the consumer's purchase characteristics and food environment. METHODS: Baseline study stemming from a controlled and randomized community trial investigating a sample representative of Primary Health Care services (Health Academy Program) of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais. The intake of fruits and vegetables was analyzed in servings/day, whereas diversity was assessed by the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Users were also questioned on the frequency, purchase location and availability of these foods at their households. To assess the consumer's food environment, commercial establishments within a 1.6 km radius around the program unit sampled were audited. RESULTS: 3,414 adults and older adults (88.1% women) were investigated, as well as 336 commercial establishments, in 18 units of the Health Academy Program. The average consumption of fruits and vegetables was adequate [5.4 (SD = 2.1) servings/day] but monotonous, with average daily intake of two different types. In the establishments audited, a good diversity (77.7% and 85.0%) and variety (74.5% and 81.4%) of fruits and vegetables was observed, although with lower quality of vegetables (60.4%). After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, we identified that knowledge on food crops (p = 0.006), increased monthly availability of fruits at households (p < 0.001), and greater variety of fruits (p = 0.03) and quality of vegetables (p = 0.05) in commercial establishments could improve the quantitative intake of fruits and vegetables, whereas a greater variety of fruits (p = 0.008) would increase consumption diversity. CONCLUSIONS: The intake of fruits and vegetables was quantitatively adequate but monotonous, being influences by the consumer environment. Such results highlight the need for improving educational actions in health services and programs, in addition to acting on the consumer environment, aiming to promote and maintain the adequate and diversified consumption, as recommended by Brazilian guidelines for proper and healthy eating.

Differences in cadmium absorption by 71 leaf vegetable varieties from different families and genera and their health risk assessment.

Leaf vegetables have strong capabilities to take up cadmium (Cd) compared to other vegetable varieties. Until now, the differences in Cd uptake and accumulation by leaf vegetables from different families and genera and the related health risks were unknown. To remedy this, we studied 71 leaf vegetables (multiple genotypes within 17 categories of vegetables) in soil cultivation experiments (3 Cd treatment levels). Results showed that at 2.12 mg kg-1 Cd treatment, the dry weight of only five genotypic varieties from the families Brassicaceae and Asteraceae significantly decreased compared to the control, suggesting their weak Cd tolerances. Vegetables from the Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, and Convolvulaceae families had stronger Cd absorption capabilities, whereas those from the Liliaceae and Amaranthaceae families had weaker ones. Cluster analysis found that the 17 vegetable categories could be divided into three groups: vegetables with high Cd accumulation capabilities were Lactuca sativa L.var. ramosa Hort. and Lactuca sativa var. longifoliaf. Lam. Vegetables with moderate Cd accumulation capabilities were bok choy, napa cabbage, choy sum, leaf mustard, Lactuca sativa L., Sonchus oleraceus L., celery, coriander, and water spinach. Vegetables with low Cd accumulation capabilities were cabbage, crown daisy, garlic chive, Allium ascalonicum, Gynura cusimbua, and edible amaranth. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) analysis results showed that 100% genotypes of vegetables from the Apiaceae and Convolvulaceae families had health risks; 100% genotypes of Lactuca sativa L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort., and Lactuca sativa var. longifoliaf. Lam from the Asteraceae family carried high risks. Of vegetables in the Brassicaceae family, 42.9% showed risks. Vegetables from the Amaranthaceae and Liliaceae families, Gynura cusimbua and crown daisy from the Asteraceae family, and cabbage from the Brassicaceae family all displayed relatively low risks (all 100%).

The role of FRIGIDA and FLOWERING LOCUS C genes in flowering time of Brassica rapa leafy vegetables.

There is a wide variation of flowering time among lines of Brassica rapa L. Most B. rapa leafy (Chinese cabbage etc.) or root (turnip) vegetables require prolonged cold exposure for flowering, known as vernalization. Premature bolting caused by low temperature leads to a reduction in the yield/quality of these B. rapa vegetables. Therefore, high bolting resistance is an important breeding trait, and understanding the molecular mechanism of vernalization is necessary to achieve this goal. In this study, we demonstrated that BrFRIb functions as an activator of BrFLC in B. rapa. We showed a positive correlation between the steady state expression levels of the sum of the BrFLC paralogs and the days to flowering after four weeks of cold treatment, suggesting that this is an indicator of the vernalization requirement. We indicate that BrFLCs are repressed by the accumulation of H3K27me3 and that the spreading of H3K27me3 promotes stable FLC repression. However, there was no clear relationship between the level of H3K27me3 in the BrFLC and the vernalization requirement. We also showed that if there was a high vernalization requirement, the rate of repression of BrFLC1 expression following prolonged cold treatments was lower.