Okra is consumed as a vegetable by populations in Africa and Asia and particularly in Egypt. In this study, we investigated some nutritional components of okra grown in four different geographical locations of Egypt. A comparative analysis of water-soluble vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12, and C) and fat-soluble vitamins (E, K, D, A, andβ-carotene) in okra pods was carried out. Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed three clusters of varieties. The first cluster included the Dakahlia (D) and Kafr El-Sheikh (K) varieties. The second and the third clusters separated out the Suez (S) and Mansoura (M) varieties independently. The S pod showed the highest contents of vitamins B6 (49.81 μg/100 g) and E (1.47 mg/100 g) but contained the lowest contents of vitamins B3 (1.42 μg/100 g) and B12 (undetected). The K pod showed the lowest vitamin C content (11.60 mg/100 g). The M pod showed the highest contents of vitamins B3 (22.70 μg/100 g), B12 (91.20 μg/100 g), C (27.14 mg/100 g), and K (0.21 mg/100 g). The D pod showed the lowest contents of vitamins E (0.15 mg/100 g), K (0.05 mg/100 g), and B6 (11.50 μg/100 g). These findings could help develop meal planning at the community level by incorporating okra varieties with high vitamin content.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cabbage phytochemicals. Materials and Methods: Color coordinates were evaluated by colorimetry, and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed by spectrophotometer for some common cabbage varieties. Results: Red heads had the highest total antioxidant contents followed by Savoy, Chinese and green heads. The Chinese variety had the highest ABTS (2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-sulfonic acid) antioxidant activity, was 5.72 μmol TE/g fw (Trolox equivalent). The green variety had the highest DPPH (free radical scavenging activity) antioxidant activity, which was 91.2 μmol TE/g fw. The red variety had the highest FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) antioxidant activity, which was 80.8 μmol TE/g fw. The total phenol amounts were 17.2-32.6 mM trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and the total flavonoid amounts were 40.0-74.2 mg quercetin per gram. Methanolic extracts of different cabbage heads showed different anti-inflammatory activity values. Chinese, Savoy and green heads had the highest anti-inflammatory activity, while red heads had the lowest. Conclusions: The results suggest that these varieties of cabbage heads could contribute as sources of important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory related to the prevention of chronic diseases associated to oxidative stress, such as in cancer and coronary artery disease.

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The development of new approaches for sustaining soil quality, leaf health, and maize productivity are imperative in light of water deficit and soil salinity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and silica nanoparticles (SiNP) are expected to improve soil chemistry leading to improved plant performance and productivity. In this field experiment, water deficit is imposed by three irrigation intervals—12 (I1), 15 (I2), and 18 (I3) days. Plants are also treated with foliar and soil applications (control, PGPR, SiNP, and PGPR + SiNP) to assess soil enzymatic activity, soil physicochemical properties, plant physiological traits, biochemical analysis, nutrient uptake, and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown under salt-affected soil during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. With longer irrigation intervals, soil application of PGPR relieves the deleterious impacts of water shortage and improves yield-related traits and maize productivity. This is attributed to the improvement in soil enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase) and soil physicochemical characteristics, which enhances the plants’ health and growth under longer irrigation intervals (i.e., I2 and I3). Foliar spraying of SiNP shows an improvement in the physiological traits in maize plants grown under water shortage. This is mainly owing to the decline in oxidative stress by improving the enzymatic activity (CAT, SOD, and POD) and ion balance (K+/Na+), resulting in higher photosynthetic rate, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, and stomatal conductance, alongside reduced proline content, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidase, and sodium content under salt-affected soil. The co-treatment of SiNP with PGPR confirms greater improvement in yield-related traits, maize productivity, as well as nutrient uptake (N, P, and K). Accordingly, their combination is a good strategy for relieving the detrimental impacts of water shortage and soil salinity on maize production.