Nutritional recommendations emphasize fruit and vegetable consumption. This is related to health-benefits associated with bioactive nutritive molecules (nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibers, …) as ...well as non-nutritive phytochemicals (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, bioactive peptides, …) content of these types of foods. Fermented fruit or vegetable products are part of various diets worldwide. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation is common among the various fermentation processes used. It produces changes in both profile and types of bioactive compounds. Molecules such as bioactive peptides, short chain fatty acids or polysaccharides are generated while sugar content or anti-nutritional compounds are decreased and phenolic compounds are converted to molecules with added biological value. These transformations, associated with prebiotic and/or probiotic potential supply as well as improvement of food components bioaccessibility and bioavailability, result in modifications of health-related properties. Lastly, interactions between ingested fermented food, intestinal microbiota and their correlations to metabolomics profiles and health represent an important perspective deserving to be further explored.
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•Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals of interest such as polyphenols.•Lactic fermentation is an ancestral process of food preservation but with a renew interest.•Fermentation increases the level of health beneficial compounds and hydrolyses anti-nutrients.•Fermented plant products could contribute to good health benefits.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
•Hydroponic cultivation of selenium-enriched leek was investigated.•Allium Porrum (Leek) could accumulate over 1000 µg/g Se in total.•About 90% biotransformation rate in Se(IV) fortification was ...observed.•MeSeCys and SeMet were the dominant species in leek fortified with Se(IV).•59–90% of total Se was bioavailable mostly as MeSeCys in Se(IV) fortified leeks.
The Allium genus vegetables are of special interest since being potentially sources for selenium. In this study, the metabolization of selenite and selenate fortification at low and high levels in hydroponically cultivated Allium porrum (Leek) was investigated. The total Se analysis of nutritional solutions which was used in cultivation medium revealed that leeks had potential to accumulate Se above over 1000 mg/kg without any growth disturbance which was proved by comparing dry masses of control group with the ones fortified by Se species. Speciation analyses performed in edible parts which are leaves and stems showed that approximately 90% of total selenium was biotransformed into organo-selenium species in which MeSeCys and SeMet were found to be the most dominant in Se(IV) fortified leeks. However, selenate was found to be the most abundant species in edible parts of selenate fortified leeks especially at high levels. Although bioavailability rate of total selenium in selenate fortified leeks was found to be higher, lower amount of inorganic selenium and higher amount of MeSeCys were found to be bioavailable in Se(IV) fortified.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The aim of the present study was to investigate the nephroprotective, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of Allium porrum (leek) in rabbits with cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Forty adult male New ...Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into four groups (ten rabbits in each group) as follows: Group I: (negative control) (C) received oral daily dose of distilled water for 15 successive days. Groups II: (Leek) (L) received oral daily dose of aqueous leek extract (500mg/kg/day) for 15 successive days. Group III: (positive control) cisplatin (CP) received oral daily dose of distilled water for 15 successive days, and subsequently administered single dose of Cisplatin (3.5mg/kg/day) by intraperitoneal injection from day 10 for five days. Groups IV: (Leek and Cisplatin
The research was aimed to know the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Allium porrum on some hematological parameters of rats. This study used 35 rats and the males divided into groups. These ...groups are administrated by different concentrations (200, 400, and 800) mg/kg from each extract daily for one week to study the parameters of hematological parameters compared to control group. The treatment with A. porrum extracts led to increasing RBC and P.C.V. for all extract concentrations and to both kinds. The aqueous extract 800 mg kg-1 were more significant than the other levels. A significant increase in hemoglobin concentration for aqueous extract 800 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and alcoholic extract 800 mg/kg and alcoholic extract 800 mg/kg were more significant than the other levels and a significant decrease in WBC number for alcoholic extract 400 mg/kg compared to control group.
Snow Mountain Garlic grows in the high altitudes of the Himalayas under low temperature conditions. It contains various bioactive compounds whose metabolic pathways have not been worked out at ...genomic level. The present work is the first report on the transcriptome sequencing of this plant. >43 million paired-end reads (301 × 2) were generated using Illumina Miseq sequencing technology. Assembling of the sequencing data resulted in 326,785 transcripts. Differentially expressed genes between the clove and leaf tissues were identified and characterized. Besides, greater emphasis was laid on the genes, which were highly expressed in clove since the latter is assumed to contain high content of the bioactive compounds. Further analysis led to the identification of the genes plausibly involved in the organosulfur metabolism. We also identified several simple sequence repeats and single nucleotide polymorphism. These constitute valuable genetic resource for research and further genetic improvement of the plant.
•Transcriptome sequencing and de novo assembly of the Snow Mountain Garlic•Identification and annotation of the coding genes in the de novo assembly•Differential expression of the genes in the leaf versus clove tissues•Organosulfur metabolizing genes highly expressed in the clove•Identification of the simple sequence repeat markers and single nucleotide polymorphisms
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Four years after its outbreak, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a global challenge for human health. At its surface, SARS-CoV-2 features numerous extensively ...glycosylated spike proteins. This glycan coat supports virion docking and entry into host cells and at the same time renders the virus less susceptible to neutralizing antibodies. Given the high genetic plasticity of SARS-CoV-2 and the rapid emergence of immune escape variants, targeting the glycan shield by carbohydrate-binding agents emerges as a promising strategy. However, the potential of carbohydrate-targeting reagents as viral inhibitors remains underexplored. Here, we tested seven plant-derived carbohydrate-binding proteins, called lectins, and one crude plant extract for their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in two types of human lung cells: A549 cells ectopically expressing the ACE2 receptor and Calu-3 cells. We identified three lectins and an Allium porrum (leek) extract inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection in both cell systems with selectivity indices (SI) ranging between >2 and >299. Amongst these, the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) exerted the most potent and broad activity against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We used multiplex super-resolution microscopy to address lectin interactions with SARS-CoV-2 and its host cells. Notably, we discovered that Con A not only binds to SARS-CoV-2 virions and their host cells, but also causes SARS-CoV-2 aggregation. Thus, Con A exerts a dual mode-of-action comprising both, antiviral and virucidal, mechanisms. These results establish Con A and other plant lectins as candidates for COVID-19 prevention and basis for further drug development.
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•The lectins Con A, HHA, and UDA and the Allium porrum extract potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection.•Con A displays broad activity against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants and in two different lung epithelial cell lines.•Con A and HHA intervene at early steps of infection.•Super-resolution microscopy employing fluorophore-labeled lectins reveals spatial proximity of Con A and spike proteins.•Con A induces massive aggregation of SARS-CoV-2 virions, uncovering its virucidal mechanism.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Six essential oils (EOs) from the Alliaceae family, namely garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), leek (Allium porrum), Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum), shallot (Allium ascalonicum) and chive ...(Allium schoenoprasum) were characterized by GC and GC-MS and evaluated for their functional food properties. Antibacterial properties were tested on five food-borne pathogens: Two Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115) and three Gram-negative Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 14028), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Campylobacter jejuni (ATCC 33291) bacteria. Antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties were tested by means of Folin-Ciocalteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Garlic, Chinese chive and onion EOs had the highest antibacterial activity whereas shallot and leek EOs were the strongest antioxidants. Heating caused a decrease in the antioxidant activity of these Eos, as shown in the Total Polar Materials (TPM) test. Suggestions on relationships between chemical composition and biological activities are presented. Results show that the EOs could be of value in the food industry as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Almost all land plants form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Individual plants usually are colonized by a wide range of phylogenetically diverse AMF species. The impact ...that different AMF taxa have on plant growth is only partly understood. We screened 44 AMF isolates for their effect on growth promotion and nutrient uptake of leek plants (
Allium porrum
), including isolates that have not been tested previously. In particular, we aimed to test weather AMF lineages with an ancient evolutionary age differ from relatively recent lineages in their effects on leek plants. The AMF isolates that were tested covered 18 species from all five AMF orders, eight families, and 13 genera. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. A soil–sand mixture was used as substrate for the leek plants. Plant growth response to inoculation with AMF varied from − 19 to 232% and depended on isolate, species, and family identity. Species from the ancient families Archaeosporaceae and Paraglomeraceae tended to be less beneficial, in terms of stimulation plant growth and nutrient uptake, than species of Glomeraceae, Entrophosporaceae, and Diversisporaceae, which are considered phylogenetically more recent than those ancient families. Root colonization levels also depended on AMF family. This study indicates that plant benefit in the symbiosis between plants and AMF is linked to fungal identity and phylogeny and it shows that there are large differences in effectiveness of different AMF.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
•Allium saponins were classified based on sapogenins and structural characteristics.•Structural classification of reported saponins facilitate the analysis of MS data.•108 saponins were identified ...from Allium vegetables.
A strategy was developed for the identification of saponins in Alliums using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography high-resolution accurate-mass/multi-stage mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRAM/MSn). The identification process was facilitated by a systematic classification of 152 previously reported sapogenins (saponin aglycones) in Allium based on their structural characteristics. The approach was successfully applied to putatively identify a total of 108 steroidal saponins in scallions, giant green onions, petite sweet Vidalia onions, and leeks using HRAM mass values and diagnostic fragmentation ions rapidly. Seventeen of the saponins are reported in genus Allium for the first time.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous plant symbionts and an important biotic component of natural and agricultural soils. Yet we have only limited knowledge about the symbiotic ...functioning of native AM fungal communities in soils from high-input agricultural systems, where mycorrhiza can be suppressed by over-fertilization, tillage and other practices.
Aims and Methods
We therefore conducted a greenhouse bioassay to examine the functioning of mycorrhizas established by native AM fungal communities from 28 conventionally managed arable soils. Their infectivity and potential to promote plant growth and nutrient uptake were evaluated in comparison to non-mycorrhizal controls and to a highly infective reference isolate, using leek (
Allium porrum
) as indicator plant. Mycorrhizal effects on soil water-stable aggregation (WSA) were determined as a proxy for an ecosystem benefit of mycorrhizas.
Results
Root colonization by AM fungi as well as their effect on plant performance were negatively related to P availability as the most influential factor across the analysed gradients of soil conditions. Significant positive plant growth response to mycorrhiza was found only in a small subset of the soils, while positive effects on P uptake were more frequent and more pronounced. Root colonization and mycorrhizal growth response were higher after inoculation with the reference isolate than with the native AM fungal communities. Mycorrhiza-induced changes in WSA were significantly related to the plant mycorrhizal growth response.
Conclusions
The results suggest that native AM fungal communities may improve plant growth only in a small subset of conventionally managed arable soils, whereby their effect can be limited by suboptimal colonization potential.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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