Malnutrition, poor health, hunger, and even starvation are still the world's greatest challenges. Malnutrition is defined as deficiency of nutrition due to not ingesting the proper amounts of nutrients by simply not eating enough food and/or by consuming nutrient-poor food in respect to the daily nutritional requirements. Moreover, malnutrition and disease are closely associated and incidences of such diet-related diseases increase particularly in low-and middle-income states. While foods of animal origin are often unaffordable to low-income families, various neglected crops can offer an alternative source of micronutrients, vitamins, as well as health-promoting secondary plant metabolites. Therefore, agricultural and horticultural research should develop strategies not only to produce more food, but also to improve access to more nutritious food. In this context, one promising approach is to promote biodiversity in the dietary pattern of low-income people by getting access to nutritional as well as affordable food and providing recommendations for food selection and preparation. Worldwide, a multitude of various plant species are assigned to be consumed as grains, vegetables, and fruits, but only a limited number of these species are used as commercial cash crops. Consequently, numerous neglected and underutilized species offer the potential to diversify not only the human diet, but also increase food production levels, and, thus, enable more sustainable and resilient agro-and horti-food systems. To exploit the potential of neglected plant (NP) species, coordinated approaches on the local, regional, and international level have to be integrated that consequently demand the involvement of numerous multi-stakeholders. Thus, the objective of the present review is to evaluate whether NP species are important as "Future Food" for improving the nutritional status of humans as well as increasing resilience of agro-and horti-food systems.
Background: Ethiopian kale (Brassica carinata) is a horticulturally important crop used as leafy vegetable in large parts of East and Southern Africa. The leaves are reported to contain high concentrations of health-promoting secondary plant metabolites. However, scientific knowledge on their health benefits is scarce. Objective: This study aimed to determine the cancer preventive potential of B. carinata using a human liver in vitro model focusing on processing effects on the pattern of secondary plant metabolites and bioactivity. Design: B. carinata was cultivated under controlled conditions and differentially processed (raw, fermented, or cooked) after harvesting. Human liver cancer cells (HepG2) were treated with ethanolic extracts of raw or processed B. carinata leaves and analyzed for their anti-genotoxic, anti-oxidant, and cytostatic potential. Chemical analyses were carried out on glucosinolates including breakdown products, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and chlorophyll content. Results: Pre-treatment with B. carinata extracts concentration dependently reduced aflatoxin-induced DNA damage in the Comet assay, reduced the production of reactive oxygen species as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and induced Nrf2-mediated gene expression. Increasing extract concentrations also promoted cytostasis. Processing had a significant effect on the content of secondary plant metabolites. However, different processing methodologies did not dramatically decrease bioactivity, but enhanced the protective effect in some of the endpoints studied. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the cancer preventive potential of B. carinata as indicated by the protection of human liver cells against aflatoxin in vitro. In general, consumption of B. carinata should be encouraged as part of chemopreventive measures to combat prevalence of aflatoxin-induced diseases.
Labeled nitrogen (15 N) was applied to a soil-based substrate in order to study the uptake of N by Glomus intraradices extraradical mycelium (ERM) from different mineral N (NO3− vs. NH4+) sources and the subsequent transfer to cowpea plants. Fungal compartments (FCs) were placed within the plant growth substrate to simulate soil patches containing root-inaccessible, but mycorrhiza-accessible, N. The fungus was able to take up both N-forms, NO3− and NH4+. However, the amount of N transferred from the FC to the plant was higher when NO3− was applied to the FC. In contrast, analysis of ERM harvested from the FC showed a higher 15 N enrichment when the FC was supplied with 15NH4+ compared with 15NO3−. The 15 N shoot/root ratio of plants supplied with 15NO3− was much higher than that of plants supplied with 15NH4+, indicative of a faster transfer of 15NO3− from the root to the shoot and a higher accumulation of 15NH4+ in the root and/or intraradical mycelium. It is concluded that hyphae of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus may absorb NH4+ preferentially over NO3− but that export of N from the hyphae to the root and shoot may be greater following NO3− uptake. The need for NH4+ to be assimilated into organically bound N prior to transport into the plant is discussed.
Background and aim The root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica increases plant resistance and tolerance to stress and promotes plant growth, but its ability to support plant nutrition is still controversially discussed. Irrespective of a potential nutrient transport towards the plant, the fungus might release P from sources unavailable for plant usage by transformation to available forms. Methods To test this hypothesis, sterile solid and liquid in vitro cultures of P. indica supplied with different organic and inorganic P sources were established. Cultures were investigated for growth, solubilised P, enzyme activities, RNA accumulation of the four genes encoding phosphate transporters and the two genes for acid phosphatases and phytases respectively found in P. indica genome, and for pH values in the media. Results P. indica growth was higher in the presence of inorganic P than in organic P sources. Significant amounts of P were solubilised by P. indica from Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 and rock phosphate. However, no relevant intra-or extracellular enzymatic activity was detected despite RNA accumulation of related genes. In general, the genes were all repressed by higher amounts of inorganic P and were expressed the most when the fungus received phytate. We observed a decrease in medium pH in the presence of P. indica irrespective of the P source. Conclusions P. indica is able to solubilise phosphate from inorganic, but not from organic P sources. This P solubilisation is not due to enzymatic activities but rather to the lowering of the medium pH.
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