CO2 enrichment can enhance the nutritional and health benefits of parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) and dill (Anethum graveolens L.)

Abstract

The functional food value of herbal plants is greatly related to their contents of valuable phytochemicals. Regarding its impact on primary and secondary plant metabolism, CO enrichment could be a candidate strategy to modulate the levels of nutritionally and medicinally interesting phytochemicals in herbal plants. Herein, the concentrations of 81 metabolites and minerals were evaluated in shoot tissues of parsley and dill grown under two levels of CO, ambient (378 ± 25 µmole CO mole air, aCO) and elevated (627 ± 24 µmole CO mole air, eCO). Regardless of the plant species, eCO improved the levels of soluble sugars, starch, organic acids, some EAAs, most of USFA, total phenolics, total flavonoids and vitamins A and E. However, notable variations in the metabolites responsiveness to eCO were recorded among the tested plant species. Moreover, considerable improvements in the total antioxidant capacity, antiprotozoal, antibacterial and anticancer activities were recorded for parsley and dill in response to eCO.

Interactive Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Elevated CO2 on Growth and Functional Food Value of Thymus vulgare

“…It was assumed that the nutritive value of plants is highly related to its content of primary metabolites, e.g., sugars, proteins and lipids [ 9 ]. In this regard, sugars and organic acids are related to taste and flavor [ 47 ], essential amino acids are involved in some biological processes, such as protein synthesis [ 48 ] and a lower saturated/unsaturated fatty acids (SFA/USFA) ratio is linked to cardio-protective effects [ 49 ].…”

“…The concentration of most fatty acids of soybean was unchanged under higher levels of CO 2 [ 62 ]. On the other hand, a significant increase in the levels of individual fatty acids was reported in parsley and dill grown under eCO 2 , which is more evident on UFA than SFA [ 9 ]. Therefore, the synchronous application of AMF and eCO 2 could be beneficial to avoid the negative impact of the individual treatment and/or to support their positive effects.…”

“…It was found that AMF could affect secondary metabolites through improved photosynthesis and mineral content of the host plants, activation of pathways involved in synthesis of secondary metabolites, or higher expression of some genes related to secondary metabolism [ 68 ]. On the other hand, the eCO 2 -induced changes in plant secondary metabolism have been attributed to either excess amount of non-structural carbohydrates, resulting in an increment in carbon-based secondary metabolites [ 9 , 37 , 51 ].…”

“…In another aspect, the exposure of plants to elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 ) has been regarded as an effective approach to improve the nutritional and medicinal values of herbal plants [ 9 ]. eCO 2 can increase plant growth and productivity either directly by enhancing photosynthesis [ 10 ] or indirectly by stimulating plant water use efficiency [ 11 ].…”

Provenance effect on bioactive phytochemicals and nutritional and health benefits of the desert date Balanites aegyptiaca

“…the absorbance was measured at 517 nm. In case of FRAP assay, according to Saleh, Selim, Jaouni, and AbdElgawad (2018), freshly prepared pre‐warmed FRAP reagent (180 µl) was mixed with 20 µl diluted ethanol extracts in a well of a microtiter plate. Then, the mix was incubated for 30 min at 37°C.…”