Old-Fashioned, but Still a Superfood—Red Beets as a Rich Source of Bioactive Compounds
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1. Some English grammar and spelling corrections must be done throughout the whole paper.
2. In the first section of Introduction, it is recommended to add some information about Botanical features of Beta vulgaris plants.
3. I strongly recommend to the authors to use most recently published articles in their paper, for example there are several published papers about phenolic contents and flavonoids of beetroot and their biological activities, however they are not included in the paper. Some articles are listed in the below:
# Profile of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids of Red Beet and Its Fermentation Products. Does Long-Term Consumption of Fermented Beetroot Juice Affect Phenolics Pro le in Human Blood Plasma and Urine?
# Identification of Flavonoid Compounds from Purified Extract of Beetroot Leaf (Beta Vulgaris L)
4. Use the similar format for SI units symbols throughout the manuscript (lines 178, 179 …)
5. Italicize “Beta Vulgaris” throughout the manuscript including references
6. I strongly recommend to the authors to provide a Table including all phytochemicals presented in each group and include their special originated organ, their amount and …
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
Reviewer # 1
Thank you for the valuable comments regarding our manuscript.
They were taking into consideration and the manuscript was filled. The added and corrected sentences are marked in red.
Detailed answers below.
- Some English grammar and spelling corrections must be done throughout the whole paper.
It has been done. Language corrections and corrected typos are marked in red.
- In the first section of Introduction, it is recommended to add some information about Botanical features of Beta vulgaris plants.
This has been added to the Introduction.
- I strongly recommend to the authors to use most recently published articles in their paper, for example there are several published papers about phenolic contents and flavonoids of beetroot and their biological activities, however they are not included in the paper. Some articles are listed in the below:
# Profile of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids of Red Beet and Its Fermentation Products. Does Long-Term Consumption of Fermented Beetroot Juice Affect Phenolics Pro le in Human Blood Plasma and Urine?
# Identification of Flavonoid Compounds from Purified Extract of Beetroot Leaf (Beta Vulgaris L)
The discussion regarding the phenolic contens and flavonoids has been revised and extended. Proposed publications have been cited in the manuscript.
- Use the similar format for SI units symbols throughout the manuscript (lines 178, 179 …)
It was corrected.
- Italicize “Beta Vulgaris” throughout the manuscript including references
It was corrected.
- I strongly recommend to the authors to provide a Table including all phytochemicals presented in each group and include their special originated organ, their amount and …
The corresponding table has been added to the manuscript.
Reviewer 2 Report
The research article “Old-fashioned but still a superfood. Red beets as a rich source of bioactive compounds” by Sentkowska and Pyrzynska presents a comprehensive review of the literature concerning red beets. The results are well described and separated into groups of the most important compounds. Although there are plenty of results presented and discussed, there are some additional points that the authors should address. Therefore my recommendation is a MAJOR REVISION.
1. The Abstract should contain some of the main conclusions of the review, as this way, it is too general and without main findings.
2. Line 151, the formulation is not easily understandable “behind the attack by betalains”, what is being attacked?
3. The authors should write units in a uniform way (lines 178 and 88)
4. The authors should mention that polyphenols can also scavenge radicals by different mechanisms, and the following references should be included - 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.080 and 10.1039/C7CP01716B
5. Line 207 – each of the studied additives HAS
6. The authors should discuss the possible effect of additives on DPPH scavenging activity.
7. Line 234 100 g (add space)
8. Is Figure 5 taken from the literature or redrawn? If it is just taken from the literature, permission for reproduction is needed.
9. The authors should mention some of the benefits of the selenium compounds.
10. Vitamins from the B group should be listed in the main text.
11. In line 313, the authors should rationally explain and connect the results with the previously shown results.
12. The conclusion should contain some main findings and the most important numerical data.
Author Response
Reviewer # 2
Thank you for the valuable comments regarding our manuscript.
They were taking into consideration and the manuscript was filled. The added and corrected sentences are marked in red.
Detailed answers below.
The research article “Old-fashioned but still a superfood. Red beets as a rich source of bioactive compounds” by Sentkowska and Pyrzynska presents a comprehensive review of the literature concerning red beets. The results are well described and separated into groups of the most important compounds. Although there are plenty of results presented and discussed, there are some additional points that the authors should address. Therefore my recommendation is a MAJOR REVISION.
- The Abstract should contain some of the main conclusions of the review, as this way, it is too general and without main findings.
It was corrected, the Abstract was improved.
- Line 151, the formulation is not easily understandable “behind the attack by betalains”, what is being attacked?
This sentence was revised.
- The authors should write units in a uniform way (lines 178 and 88)
It was corrected.
- The authors should mention that polyphenols can also scavenge radicals by different mechanisms, and the following references should be included - 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.080 and 10.1039/C7CP01716B
The discussion regarding the phenolic contens and flavonoids has been revised and extended. Proposed publications have been cited in the manuscript.
- Line 207 – each of the studied additives HAS
It was corrected.
- The authors should discuss the possible effect of additives on DPPH scavenging activity.
Short discussion about the possible effect of additives on DPPH scavenging activity was added to the text.
- Line 234 100 g (add space)
It was corrected.
- Is Figure 5 taken from the literature or redrawn? If it is just taken from the literature, permission for reproduction is needed.
It was taken from the literature. We have the required permissions for all drawings in the manuscript.
- The authors should mention some of the benefits of the selenium compounds.
It was added to the text.
- Vitamins from the B group should be listed in the main text.
It was added to the text.
- In line 313, the authors should rationally explain and connect the results with the previously shown results.
This section was improved.
- The conclusion should contain some main findings and the most important numerical data.
This section was improved. A table with numerical data from cited papers has been added to the manuscript.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Accept
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have answered all of the queries by the reviewer
