A Comparative Study of Flavonoid Compounds, Vitamin C, and Antioxidant Properties of Baby Leaf Brassicaceae Species

Abstract

A comparative study of antioxidant compounds, flavonoids and vitamin C, and also antioxidant activity was carried out in four species of Brassicaceae vegetables used for salads: watercress ( Nasturtium officinale R. Br.), mizuna [ Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica (L.H. Bailey) Haneltand], wild rocket [ Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.], and salad rocket [ Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.]. The characterization of individual phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI in watercress and mizuna completes the polyphenol study previously reported for wild rocket and salad rocket. The qualitative study of flavonoids in watercress leaves showed a characteristic glycosylation pattern with rhamnose at the 7 position. Isorhamnetin 3,7-di- O-glucoside was identified in mizuna leaves and may be considered a chemotaxonomical marker in some B. rapa subspecies. Brassicaceae species showed differences in the quantitative study of flavonoids, and the highest content was detected in watercress leaves. Watercress and wild rocket leaves had the highest content of vitamin C. The antioxidant activity evaluated by different methods (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays) showed a high correlation level with the content of polyphenols and vitamin C. In conclusion, the Brassicaceae leaves studied, watercress, mizuna, wild rocket, and salad rocket, presented a large variability in the composition and content of antioxidant compounds. These baby leaf species are good dietary sources of antioxidants with an important variability of bioactive compounds.

Application of ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode detector-quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS) method for the characterization of phenolic compounds of Lepidium sativum L. sprouts

“…This led to glycosylation with pentose instead of a hexose. The qualitative study of flavonoids in watercress (Nasturtium officinale) leaves also showed a characteristic glycosylation pattern with rhamnose at the -7 position [34]. Acylated flavonol glycosides were identified not only on the basis of the increase in mass of the parent ions but also on the basis of the wavelength maxima (330-336 nm) of their UV spectra (Table 1).…”

“…chinensis L. These results were obtained for aglycones after hydrolysis reactions. Martínez-Sánchez et al [34] found that N. officinale R.Br. leaves showed the highest content with mean values of 263 mg of polyphenols per 100 g fw; while for mizuna, salad rocket, and wild rocket leaves, the content was the lowest (99.1, and 139.0 mg/100 g fw, respectively).…”

Fundamental Differences between Perennial Wall Rocket and Annual Garden Rocket Influence the Commercial Year-Round Supply of These Crops

“…The leaves of perennial wall rocket maintain visual quality for a longer period of time, i.e., they have a longer shelf life . Both species of rocket supply much higher vitamin C than lettuce which is the main leafy salad vegetable consumed worldwide (Llorach et al, 2008;Martínez-Sánchez et al, 2008); meaning that regardless of species or storage conditions rocket crops represent superior nutritional value when compared to more traditional lettuce types. …”

Chemical composition and biological activities ofEruca vesicariasubsp. longirostrisessential oils

“…It is also an antiscorbutic, stimulant and rubefacient (Boulos 1983). In terms of antioxidant compounds, rocket salad species are a good source of vitamins, such as vitamin C, carotenoids and polyphenols, which play a very important role among natural antioxidants (Martínez-Sánchez et al 2008).…”