Sorting out the Value of Cruciferous Sprouts as Sources of Bioactive Compounds for Nutrition and Health

Abstract

Edible sprouts with germinating seeds of a few days of age are naturally rich in nutrients and other bioactive compounds. Among them, the cruciferous (Brassicaceae) sprouts stand out due to their high contents of glucosinolates (GLSs) and phenolic compounds. In order to obtain sprouts enriched in these phytochemicals, elicitation is being increasing used as a sustainable practice. Besides, the evidence regarding the bioavailability and the biological activity of these compounds after their dietary intake has also attracted growing interest in recent years, supporting the intake of the natural food instead of enriched ingredients or extracts. Also, there is a growing interest regarding their uses, consumption, and applications for health and wellbeing, in different industrial sectors. In this context, the present review aims to compile and update the available knowledge on the fundamental aspects of production, enrichment in composition, and the benefits upon consumption of diverse edible cruciferous sprouts, which are sources of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates, as well as the evidence on their biological actions in diverse pathophysiological situations and the molecular pathways involved.

The value of bioactive compounds of cruciferous vegetables (Brassica) as antimicrobials and antioxidants: A review

“…including also flavonoids, tocopherols, and carotenoids, among others terpenes and important seed oils (Abbaoui, Lucas, Riedl, Clinton, & Mortazavi, 2018;Mahmud et al, 2019;Shankar, Segaran, Sundar, Settu, & Sathiavelu, 2019). Table 2 lists Is important to know that the synthesis, diversity, and quantity of Brassica's phytochemicals depend on the interaction of several factors such as germination, the environmental conditions, or the nutrient supply in the crops (Abellán, Domínguez-Perles, Moreno, & García-Viguera, 2019;Frede, Schreiner, & Baldermann, 2019;Podsedek, 2007 United States department of agriculture, agricultural research service, national nutrient database for standard reference legacy release (USDA, 2019).…”

Sprouts and Microgreens: Trends, Opportunities, and Horizons for Novel Research

“…Plant species in the Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae families are most exploited for sprouting purposes and therefore most reported by the scientific literature. For these species, research has provided a lot of information on the nutritional traits of sprouts and microgreens [3,4,27].…”

“…Cruciferous, grain, and legume sprouts have been tested in preclinical and human studies for their preventive and therapeutic benefits across a variety of health and pathological conditions. These investigations, extensively described and critically reviewed [27,237,238], illustrate the typical complexities of food-based trials, particularly with regard to considerations and concerns over regulatory and scientific matters, and debates about the functional and biological significance of experimental data [225,239]. In short, the same dilemma exists today as was raised by Clare M. Hasler almost 20 years ago following a 1999 guidance by the Food and Drug Administration [240]; namely, the distinction between emerging evidence and strong scientific agreement by which a product can be marketed as a dietary supplement to enhance nutrition and achieve physiological benefits, or a medical treatment to prevent or attenuate symptoms, or treat a condition.…”

Inactivation of Thioglucosidase from Sinapis alba (White Mustard) Seed by Metal Salts

“…This latter compound is spontaneously converted into isothiocyanates, nitriles, thiocyanates, epithionitriles, indoles, or 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones. The type of glucosinolate product obtained during hydrolysis strictly depends on the reaction conditions and the original glucosinolate side-chain structure (aliphatic, aromatic, and indolic) [ 9 , 10 ].…”