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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants
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Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 May 2025 | Viewed by 4334

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dejan Prvulović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: bioactive compounds; allelopathy; polyphenols; antioxidants; secondary metabolites; oxidative stress
Prof. Dr. Simona Oancea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Food Industry and Environmental Protection, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 7-9 Dr. Ion Rațiu Street, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Interests: phytochemistry; antioxidants; polyphenols; lipid oxidation; nutraceuticals
Dr. Eleonora Spinozzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Interests: plant essential oils; plant extracts; bioactive compounds; phytochemistry; isolation; synthesis; biological properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural plants are rich source of different bioactive compounds, which play a crucial role both in their metabolism and in their interactions with the surrounding environment. Indeed, these compound possess numerous ecological functions, contributing to plant survival in different environmental conditions, protecting them from herbivores, plant pathogens and competitive plants, and attracting pollinators and birds. Bioactive compounds are usually extracted for their numerous biological properties and find several applications in pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic, textile, food and feed industries and in integrated plant protection.

This Special Issue aims to present studies that report the extraction procedures and the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from fruits, vegetables and ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as the utilization, application and bioactivity of selected extracts. 

Prof. Dr. Dejan Prvulović
Prof. Dr. Simona Oancea
Dr. Eleonora Spinozzi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • horticultural plants
  • extraction
  • fruits
  • aromatic plants
  • chemical characterization

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1867 KiB  
Article
Aromatic and Nutritional Composition of Edible Flowers of Garden Garlic and Wild Leek
by Telmo Marcelo Zambrano Núñez, Adriana Margarita Morales Noriega, María Dolores García-Martínez and María Dolores Raigón Jiménez
Horticulturae 2025, 11(3), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11030323 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 763
Abstract
Many of the flowers of ornamental and wild plants are edible. Flowers provide colors, flavors and textures to foods and serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and pigments, which exert a very high antioxidant activity. The cultivation [...] Read more.
Many of the flowers of ornamental and wild plants are edible. Flowers provide colors, flavors and textures to foods and serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and pigments, which exert a very high antioxidant activity. The cultivation of edible flowers is a production alternative that is on the rise. The main objective of this work has been to study the nutritional and aromatic value of garden garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) and wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum). The crops were carried out in the region of L’Horta Nord (Valencia, Spain), using organic production techniques. The proximate composition, antioxidant capacity, metal content and volatile fraction of the flowers were determined. The flowers of ornamental garlic and wild leek have been shown to be a source of fiber and even protein, with very low lipid content. There is no accumulation of heavy metals in these flowers. Organosulfur compounds are the chemical family of volatile components that predominate in these flowers, representing 98% of the volatile fraction of garden garlic flowers and 68.5% in wild leek flowers. The powerful antioxidant activity of the flowers studied and their relationship with a very significant aromatic fraction of sulfur components is well suited to the current trend of searching for natural and healthy foods with nutraceutical properties. It is recommended to continue studying the bioavailability of floral components and understand their effect on health, as well as organosulfur compounds for physiological functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants)
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16 pages, 490 KiB  
Article
Valorisation of Sunflower Crop Residue as a Potentially New Source of Bioactive Compounds
by Ivona Veličković, Stevan Samardžić, Marina T. Milenković, Miloš Petković and Zoran Maksimović
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020206 - 15 Feb 2025
Viewed by 604
Abstract
Reducing agricultural waste through reuse has become one of the most important strategies to minimise impact on the environment—an emerging global issue. Sunflower ranks fourth in the world in the production of vegetable oilseeds and therefore generates large amounts of agricultural waste. The [...] Read more.
Reducing agricultural waste through reuse has become one of the most important strategies to minimise impact on the environment—an emerging global issue. Sunflower ranks fourth in the world in the production of vegetable oilseeds and therefore generates large amounts of agricultural waste. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of sunflower crop residues in order to open up new opportunities for waste management. TPC and TFC were determined spectrophotometrically, while the dominant compounds were identified by LC-DAD-ESI-MS as ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (KA) and 6Ac-7OH-dimethylchromone (DMC). Both compounds were present in higher concentrations in the ethyl acetate fraction (245.5 and 16.8 mg/g, respectively) than in the ethanol extract. None of the tested samples showed antimicrobial effects in the microdilution test. DMC showed remarkable antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and TRC in vitro assays, while both compounds proved to be promising enzyme inhibitory agents, being particularly efficient in inhibiting anti-neurodegenerative enzymes (IC50 values of DMC and KA were 1.20/1.37 mg/mL and 1.44/1.63 mg/mL for AChE/BChE, respectively) and tyrosinase. The results presented indicate that sunflower crop residues are a good candidate for the extraction of bioactive compounds with potential application in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants)
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15 pages, 2390 KiB  
Article
Comparative Assessment of Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activities in Different Parts of Pyrus ussuriensis Cultivars
by Neil Patrick Uy, Jajung Ku, Doo-Hee Lee, Sang June Nam and Sanghyun Lee
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020184 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 515
Abstract
Pyrus ussuriensis, also known as Ussurian pear, is a deciduous tree from the Rosaceae family. This study examined the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of different parts (1-year-old stem, 2-year-old stem, and leaves) of Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea [...] Read more.
Pyrus ussuriensis, also known as Ussurian pear, is a deciduous tree from the Rosaceae family. This study examined the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of different parts (1-year-old stem, 2-year-old stem, and leaves) of Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. The analysis included measurements of total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and evaluations of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radical scavenging activities. Quantitative analyses were conducted using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UV). The analysis with one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in TPC and TFC across tissues, with the stems exhibiting the highest TPC and the leaves showing the highest TFC in both P. ussuriensis and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. Among the examined structures, the stems exhibited the highest TPC, whereas the leaves exhibited the highest TFC in both P. ussuriensis and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea displayed stronger antioxidant activity than P. ussuriensis. LC-MS/MS detected 18 phytochemicals, with chlorogenic acid being the most abundant, especially in leaf extracts, as confirmed using HPLC/UV analyses. This cultivar-based comparison highlights a tissue-specific distribution of bioactive compounds, with leaves primarily contributing to high flavonoid content and stems to polyphenolic content. Collectively, these findings provide valuable insights into the rich phytochemical diversity and antioxidant potential of P. ussuriensis cultivars, highlighting their versatility in various fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants)
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19 pages, 2028 KiB  
Article
Effect of Organic Farming Techniques on the Quality of Almond Fat
by María Dolores García-Martínez, Patricia Esteve Ciudad, Miguel Ángel Gómez Tenorio and María Dolores Raigón Jiménez
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020135 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 774
Abstract
Almond fruit is characterized by a mature, hardened endocarp enclosing the seed. Despite being a drupe botanically, almonds are commonly referred to as nuts due to their low water content. The edible seed, known as the kernel, is the primary commercial product. Fatty [...] Read more.
Almond fruit is characterized by a mature, hardened endocarp enclosing the seed. Despite being a drupe botanically, almonds are commonly referred to as nuts due to their low water content. The edible seed, known as the kernel, is the primary commercial product. Fatty acid composition was determined to value the quality of fat over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, from plots where the production system (organic and conventional), the irrigation system (intense irrigation, support irrigation and dry land), and the use of plant cover varied. The oil content and fatty acid composition were determined over four years in almonds of the Guara variety, using different sustainable agriculture techniques. Oil almond content ranged from 35% to 55% of total fresh weight of the kernel, with strong variability between years. Fatty acid composition was also highly variable, with significant differences depending on agricultural practices. Oleic acid, which ranged from 59% to 78%, was statistically higher with support irrigation. Plant cover also favored the synthesis of oleic acid. Linoleic acid, which ranged from 11% to 25%, had a statistically higher content in almonds from organic farming and dry land conditions. The atherogenic and thrombogenic indices and the value of health-beneficial fat was better in organically prod\uced almonds. The great variability observed in the quality of almond fat represents a very promising basis for establishing practices for adaptation to arid cultivation conditions, irrigation management, and organic and regenerative techniques, satisfying requirements for healthier and more sustainable diets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants)
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12 pages, 2203 KiB  
Article
Quantification of Phytochemicals in Cephalotaxus harringtonia: Insights into Plant Tissue-Specific Allocation
by Chang-Dae Lee, Jajung Ku, Sullim Lee and Sanghyun Lee
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1286; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121286 - 3 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 895
Abstract
Cephalotaxus harringtonia has garnered recent attention for its promising medicinal properties attributed to its alkaloid composition, including harringtonine and homoharringtonine known for their radical scavenging activities. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess the distribution of harringtonine, homoharringtonine, and ginkgetin in different plant [...] Read more.
Cephalotaxus harringtonia has garnered recent attention for its promising medicinal properties attributed to its alkaloid composition, including harringtonine and homoharringtonine known for their radical scavenging activities. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess the distribution of harringtonine, homoharringtonine, and ginkgetin in different plant parts of C. harringtonia. Additionally, DPPH and ABTS+ assays were conducted to evaluate the radical scavenging activity of C. harringtonia extracts. These results revealed that bud extracts from C. harringtonia exhibited the highest levels of polyphenols, along with elevated concentrations of harringtonine and homoharringtonine; nevertheless, this phenomenon only marginally influenced their antioxidant potential. These results suggest that, although a high concentration of compounds was detected in the buds of C. harringtonia, the detected compounds and their correlationwith radical scavenging activity appears to be weak. While harringtonine and homoharringtonine are synthesized and maintained at elevated levels within buds to fulfill various physiological functions, including modulation of signal transduction pathways and reinforcement of defense mechanisms, the involvement of other constituents and the potential synergistic interactions among compounds cannot be overlooked in mediating the observed radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the significant concentrations of harringtonine and homoharringtonine in bud extracts highlight the potential applications of C. harringtonia in the pharmaceutical industry and other similar fields. This study emphasizes the imperativeness of further exploring the medicinal applications of C. harringtonia and underscores its prospective implications in pharmaceutical and functional materials development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Utilization and Application of Bioactive Compounds from Horticultural Plants)
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