Edible Plant Sprouts: Health Benefits, Trends, and Opportunities for Novel Exploration.

The consumption of plant sprouts as part of human day-to-day diets is gradually increasing, and their health benefit is attracting interest across multiple disciplines. The purpose of this review was to (a) critically evaluate the phytochemicals in selected sprouts (alfalfa, buckwheat, broccoli, and red cabbage), (b) describe the health benefits of sprouts, (c) assess the recent advances in sprout production, (d) rigorously evaluate their safety, and (e) suggest directions that merit special consideration for further novel research on sprouts. Young shoots are characterized by high levels of health-benefitting phytochemicals. Their utility as functional ingredients have been extensively described. Tremendous advances in the production and safety of sprouts have been made over the recent past and numerous reports have appeared in mainstream scientific journals describing their nutritional and medicinal properties. However, subjects such as application of sprouted seed flours in processed products, utilizing sprouts as leads in the synthesis of nanoparticles, and assessing the dynamics of a relationship between sprouts and gut health require special attention for future clinical exploration. Sprouting is an effective strategy allowing manipulation of phytochemicals in seeds to improve their health benefits.

Comparative assessment of effect of malt with different bud length on prolactin in hyperprolactinemia rat

Malt is the mature fruit of Hordeum vulgare L. after germination and drying and has been applied for treatment female abnormal galactorrhea. Previous studies have showed total alkaloids in malt have anti-HPRL effect. However, total alkaloids of malt change with the growth cycle, and the specified levels of total alkaloids in different bud length of malt have not been decided. To determine the definitive level of total alkaloids in different buds of malt and the most suitable bud length for clinical application by comparing effects on hyperprolactinemia rat. During the budding of malt, the content of total alkaloids first increased and then decreased, and it peaked at a bud length of 0.75 cm. Treated the HPRL model rats with different buds of malt, the PRL level was decreased, the number of PRLpositive cells and the mRNA expression level in the pituitary were significantly declined, and the number of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the hypothalamus was increased. The above changes were most significant in 0.75 cm bud. These results suggest that in terms of the content of effective substance and the effects on HPRL model rats, a malt bud length of 0.75 cm is optimal for clinical application.

New product, old problem(s): multistate outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+) infections linked to raw sprouted nut butters, October 2015.

A cluster of Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+) infections with indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns was detected in October 2015. Interviews initially identified nut butters, kale, kombucha, chia seeds and nutrition bars as common exposures. Epidemiologic, environmental and traceback investigations were conducted. Thirteen ill people infected with the outbreak strain were identified in 10 states with illness onset during 18 July-22 November 2015. Eight of 10 (80%) ill people reported eating Brand A raw sprouted nut butters. Brand A conducted a voluntary recall. Raw sprouted nut butters are a novel outbreak vehicle, though contaminated raw nuts, nut butters and sprouted seeds have all caused outbreaks previously. Firms producing raw sprouted products, including nut butters, should consider a kill step to reduce the risk of contamination. People at greater risk for foodborne illness may wish to consider avoiding raw products containing raw sprouted ingredients.

High Occurrence Rate and Contamination Level of Bacillus cereus in Organic Vegetables on Sale in Retail Markets.

Organic foods have risen in popularity recently. However, the increased risk of bacterial contamination of organic foods has not been fully evaluated. In this study, 100 samples each of organic and conventional fresh vegetables (55 lettuce samples and 45 sprout samples) sold in South Korea were analyzed for aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus. Although the aerobic bacteria and coliform counts were not significantly different between the two farming types (p > 0.05), the occurrence rate of B. cereus was higher in organically cultivated vegetables compared with those grown conventionally (70% vs. 30%, respectively). The mean contamination level of B. cereus-positive organic samples was also significantly higher (1.86 log colony-forming unit [CFU]/g vs. 0.69 log CFU/g, respectively) (p < 0.05). In addition, six samples of organic vegetables were found to be contaminated with B. cereus at over 4 log CFU/g categorized as unsatisfactory according to Health Protection Agency guideline. The relatively higher occurrence rate of B. cereus in organic vegetables emphasizes the importance of implementing control measures in organic vegetable production and postharvest processing to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Establishment of Mimosa biuncifera (Fabaceae) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in greenhouse and field drought conditions / Establecimiento de Mimosa biuncifera (Fabaceae) inoculada con hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en invernadero y campo, en condiciones de sequía

AbstractMexico is dominated by arid or semi-arid ecosystems, predominantly characterized as xeric shrublands. These areas are frequently deteriorated due to agriculture or over-grazing by livestock (sheep and goats). The vegetation type mainly consists of thorny plant species, and among these, the dominant one in overgrazed areas is catclaw (Mimosa biuncifera). This is a nurse plant that facilitates establishment of other vegetation and promotes plant succession. Catclaw plants form a mutualistic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which improves uptake of nutrients and water. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of inoculating catclaw plants with native AMF and starting their growth under a low water availability treatment in a greenhouse, and later transplanting them to field conditions of drought and deterioration. Field plants were evaluated according to their survivorship and growth. The seeds of catclaw plants and soil with AMF spores were collected in the Mezquital Valley of Hidalgo State, in Central Mexico. Seedlings were grown in individual pots in a greenhouse. The experimental design consisted of two levels of pot irrigation, wet (W) and dry (D), as well as the presence (M+) or absence (M-) of AMF inoculum, with 20 replicates for each treatment. The following plant parameters were recorded every week: height, number of leaves and pinnae, and mean diameter of coverage. After 20 weeks in the greenhouse, determination was made of fresh and dry biomass, relative growth rate (RGR), root/shoot ratio, real evapotranspiration (RET), water-use efficiency (WUE), and percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. The remaining plants growing under the dry treatment (M+ and M-) were then transplanted to a semi-arid locality in the Mezquital Valley. During one year, monthly records were kept of their height, number of leaves, mean diameter of coverage and survival. Results showed that compared to greenhouse plants under other treatments, those under the wet mycorrhizal (WM+) treatment were taller, had more pinnae, and were characterized by greater coverage, faster RGR, and greater fresh and dry biomass. Moreover, inoculated plants (WM+ and DM+) showed higher WUE than those uninoculated (WM- and DM-, respectively). After one year in field conditions, there was a higher survival rate for previously inoculated versus uninoculated plants. Hence, mycorrhization of M. biuncifera with native AMF inoculum increased plant efficiency in biomass production, thus favoring establishment and survival in field conditions. We concluded that inoculation of catclaw plants is recommendable for revegetation programs in deteriorated semi-arid zones. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (2): 791-803. Epub 2016 June 01.

ResumenMás de la mitad del territorio mexicano está dominado por ecosistemas áridos y semiáridos. El principal tipo de vegetación de estos ambientes son matorrales xerófilos y normalmente están deteriorados por agricultura y sobrepastoreo de ovejas y cabras inducido por la actividad humana. Las plantas espinosas dominan en estas zonas, como el gatuño (Mimosa biuncifera Benth., Fabaceae), que es una planta nodriza que promueve la sucesión vegetal. Las plantas de gatuño forman junto con hongos micorrizógenos arbusculares (HMA), una asociación mutualista llamada micorriza arbuscular que mejora la captación vegetal de nutrimentos y agua. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el efecto de la inoculación con HMA nativos en plantas de gatuño, para evaluar su crecimiento y establecimiento bajo un tratamiento de baja disponibilidad hídrica, tanto en condiciones de invernadero como de campo. Para esto, se recolectaron semillas de Mimosa biuncifera y suelo con esporas de HMA en el Valle del Mezquital, estado de Hidalgo, en el Centro de México. Las plántulas fueron cultivadas en macetas individuales en condiciones de invernadero bajo un diseño experimental que consistió en dos tratamientos de riego de las macetas, húmedo (W) y seco (D), y dos tratamientos de inoculación: con y sin inóculo de HMA (M+, M-). Cada tratamiento tuvo 20 repeticiones. Semanalmente se registró altura, diámetro medio de la cobertura y número de hojas y pinnas de las plantas. Después de 20 semanas, se determinaron biomasa húmeda y seca, tasa relativa de crecimiento (TRC), proporción raíz vástago, evapotranspiración real, eficiencia en el uso del agua (WUE) y porcentaje de colonización micorrícica. Posteriormente, los individuos del tratamiento seco (M+ y M-) fueron trasplantados a una localidad semiárida en el Valle del Mezquital, donde la altura, número de hojas y supervivencia fueron registrados mensualmente durante un año. Los resultados muestran que las plantas en el tratamiento húmedo y micorrizado (WM+) tuvieron una mayor altura, cobertura vegetal, biomasa húmeda y seca, TRC y más pinnas que las plantas de los otros tratamientos; también los tratamientos micorrizados (WM+ y DM+) tuvieron mayor WUE que la plantas sin inóculo (M-). En condiciones de campo, después de un año, la supervivencia de las plantas M+ fue mayor que en los testigos. Se concluyó que la micorrización de M. biuncifera con inóculo nativo incrementa su eficiencia en la producción de biomasa y favorece el establecimiento y supervivencia en condiciones de campo. Finalmente, se recomienda la inoculación de plantas de gatuño con HMA en programas de revegetación de zonas semiáridas deterioradas.

Establishment of Mimosa biuncifera (Fabaceae) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in greenhouse and field drought conditions.

Mexico is dominated by arid or semi-arid ecosystems, predominantly characterized as xeric shrublands. These areas are frequently deteriorated due to agriculture or over-grazing by livestock (sheep and goats). The vegetation type mainly consists of thorny plant species, and among these, the dominant one in overgrazed areas is catclaw (Mimosa biuncifera). This is a nurse plant that facilitates establishment of other vegetation and promotes plant succession. Catclaw plants form a mutualistic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which improves uptake of nutrients and water. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of inoculating catclaw plants with native AMF and starting their growth under a low water availability treatment in a greenhouse, and later transplanting them to field conditions of drought and deterioration. Field plants were evaluated according to their survivorship and growth. The seeds of catclaw plants and soil with AMF spores were collected in the Mezquital Valley of Hidalgo State, in Central Mexico. Seedlings were grown in individual pots in a greenhouse. The experimental design consisted of two levels of pot irrigation, wet (W) and dry (D), as well as the presence (M+) or absence (M-) of AMF inoculum, with 20 replicates for each treatment. The following plant parameters were recorded every week: height, number of leaves and pinnae, and mean diameter of coverage. After 20 weeks in the greenhouse, determination was made of fresh and dry biomass, relative growth rate (RGR), root/shoot ratio, real evapotranspiration (RET), water-use efficiency (WUE), and percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. The remaining plants growing under the dry treatment (M+ and M-) were then transplanted to a semi-arid locality in the Mezquital Valley. During one year, monthly records were kept of their height, number of leaves, mean diameter of coverage and survival. Results showed that compared to greenhouse plants under other treatments, those under the wet mycorrhizal (WM+) treatment were taller, had more pinnae, and were characterized by greater coverage, faster RGR, and greater fresh and dry biomass. Moreover, inoculated plants (WM+ and DM+) showed higher WUE than those uninoculated (WM- and DM-, respectively). After one year in field conditions, there was a higher survival rate for previously inoculated versus uninoculated plants. Hence, mycorrhization of M. biuncifera with native AMF inoculum increased plant efficiency in biomass production, thus favoring establishment and survival in field conditions. We concluded that inoculation of catclaw plants is recommendable for revegetation programs in deteriorated semi-arid zones.

CML24, regulated in expression by diverse stimuli, encodes a potential Ca2+ sensor that functions in responses to abscisic acid, daylength, and ion stress.

Changes in intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) levels serve to signal responses to diverse stimuli. Ca(2+) signals are likely perceived through proteins that bind Ca(2+), undergo conformation changes following Ca(2+) binding, and interact with target proteins. The 50-member calmodulin-like (CML) Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) family encodes proteins containing the predicted Ca(2+)-binding EF-hand motif. The functions of virtually all these proteins are unknown. CML24, also known as TCH2, shares over 40% amino acid sequence identity with calmodulin, has four EF hands, and undergoes Ca(2+)-dependent changes in hydrophobic interaction chromatography and migration rate through denaturing gel electrophoresis, indicating that CML24 binds Ca(2+) and, as a consequence, undergoes conformational changes. CML24 expression occurs in all major organs, and transcript levels are increased from 2- to 15-fold in plants subjected to touch, darkness, heat, cold, hydrogen peroxide, abscisic acid (ABA), and indole-3-acetic acid. However, CML24 protein accumulation changes were not detectable. The putative CML24 regulatory region confers reporter expression at sites of predicted mechanical stress; in regions undergoing growth; in vascular tissues and various floral organs; and in stomata, trichomes, and hydathodes. CML24-underexpressing transgenics are resistant to ABA inhibition of germination and seedling growth, are defective in long-day induction of flowering, and have enhanced tolerance to CoCl(2), molybdic acid, ZnSO(4), and MgCl(2). MgCl(2) tolerance is not due to reduced uptake or to elevated Ca(2+) accumulation. Together, these data present evidence that CML24, a gene expressed in diverse organs and responsive to diverse stimuli, encodes a potential Ca(2+) sensor that may function to enable responses to ABA, daylength, and presence of various salts.