The consumption of plant-based foods with health-beneficial properties is one of the
crucial factors for the welfare and promotion of health, preventing various chronic
conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Plant
species belonging to the Brassicaceae family are one of the earliest cultivated and
domesticated plant groups grown as vegetables, fodder, sources of oils, and for use
as condiments. Species from this family are regarded as one of the richest sources
of health-promoting phytochemicals, such as minerals, trace elements, polyphenols,
vitamins, and isothiocyanates. Many species, such as Brassica oleracea, Brassica napus,
and Brassica juncea are of great economic importance, and include varieties such as
broccoli, rapeseed, and mustard. There are many other underutilized species and varieties,
which are locally cultivated and vaguely studied, but contribute important components
to the human diet (1).
Of the 372 genera and more than 4,000 species of plants belonging to the Brassicaceae
family, only a limited number of them have been studied and characterized with respect
to their composition of compounds of importance to health. What differentiates Brassica
crops from other horticultural crops is the presence of the secondary metabolites
called glucosinolates (GSL), recognized for both their role in plant defense and human
health (2). The diversity of compounds derived from glucosinolates, for example, is
constantly being expanded. In recent years, numerous new in planta metabolic products
and cooking-induced derivatives have been identified, and we are only just starting
to understand their full significance and contribution toward optimal health.
The study of Coves et al. reports that a mass selection program to modify GSL content
was effective in the leaves of two autochthonous Brassica species cultivated in northwest
of Spain: nabicol (Brassica napus L.), selected by glucobrassicanapin (GBN), and nabiza
(Brassica rapa L.), selected by gluconapin (GNA). However, the response to selection
was asymmetrical in both species as it was more effective to decrease selected GSL
than to increase it, possibly due to the depletion in the genetic variability necessary
to increase the GSL concentration. Interestingly, the selection was also effective
in other parts of the plant, suggesting that there is a GSL translocation, or a modification
in the compound synthesis pathway that is non-organ specific. This did not have a
negative impact on morphological or agronomical characters, suggesting that populations
obtained by mass selection may have the same or even better agronomic performance
than the original populations.
The article by Montaner et al. studies a traditional winter crop named “bróquil” (Brassica
oleracea L., var. italica) cultivated in Northeast Spain, and locally appreciated
for its taste and peculiar flavor. This work evaluates a collection of 13 bróquil
landraces, describing their bioactive compounds (total phenolic content, total flavonoid
content, total glucosinolate content, and vitamin C), mineral content (macroelements
and microelements) and antioxidant activity, and included broccoli as the control.
Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were higher in bróquil landraces
than in the broccoli control. In general, bróquil glucosinolate contents, vitamin
C, and antioxidant activity were similar to or higher than those in broccoli. All
macroelements and microelements showed significant differences among the bróquil accessions
and broccoli control, with potassium and iron being the mineral elements detected
in the highest amounts. The variability found makes these landraces an important source
for the genetic improvement of this crop and contributes to a more diversified and
healthy diet.
The consumption of glucosinolates contained in Brassica species is correlated with
a reduced risk of different types of cancer (3). This anti-cancer effect is mainly
associated with certain glucosinolate degradation products, such as isothiocyanates
(ITCs), formed during hydrolysis by the enzyme myrosinase (4, 5). The research by
Hoffmann et al. concerns assessment of the stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity
of two glucosinolate degradation products formed during boiling of red cabbage (Brassica
oleracea var. capitata f. rubra). These glucosinolate degradation products are 3-allyl-4-hydroxythiazolidine-2-thione
(allyl HTT) derived from sinigrin and 4-hydroxy-3-(4-(methylsulfinyl) butyl) thiazolidine-2-thione
(4-MSOB HTT) derived from glucoraphanin. After consumption of boiled cabbage broth,
both HTTs can overcome the stomach and intestinal barrier, and passive diffusion seems
to be the most likely uptake mechanism. However, no apparent biological effects were
observed in the tested assays included in this study, suggesting that HTTs may not
contribute to health effects related to GSL consumption. These findings contrast with
the properties of other glucosinolate degradation products such as isothiocyanates.
Loose-curd cauliflower is one of the main varieties of plateau summer vegetables in
the Lanzhou area (Northwest China). This area is rich in straw resources but the straw
recycling rate is low, and straw burning is a common phenomenon. It is in this area
of China where the experimental work of Xie et al. is carried out (4). The authors
evaluate the impact of straw and plastic film mulching on the yield and quality of
open field loose-curd cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.). Three experimental
mulching methods were studied: dual straw and plastic film mulch (T1), inter-row straw
mulch (T2), and full straw mulch (T3), with plots prepared without mulch (CK1) and
with plastic film mulch (CK2) as experimental controls. The dry matter accumulation
was highest in cauliflower subjected to T1 treatment, followed by those grown under
CK2 treatment. In relation to the chemical composition of the harvested products,
the work shows that the macro, meso, and micro elements in the loose-curd cauliflower
heads grown under T1, T2, and T3 treatments increased in relation to the experimental
controls (CK1 and CK2). Moreover, T1, T2, and T3 treatments increased the volatile
content, although it remains unclear whether the effect of straw mulching improves
the flavor of loose-curd cauliflower. Dual mulching with straw and plastic film appears
to be the best application option in corn production areas to produce high-quality,
high-yield open field Brassica vegetables, as well as crop stalk recycling.
The articles collected in the Research Topic “Nutritional Quality and Nutraceutical
Properties of Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)” have directly addressed and contributed knowledge
in these areas and have advanced the understanding of nutrition and health-related
compounds found in Brassicaceae species.
Author contributions
LB: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing. MO-C: Conceptualization,
Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing. AD: Conceptualization, Writing—original
draft, Writing—review and editing.