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Bioactive Compounds and Phytochemical Diversity as Quality Traits in Horticultural Crops

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Dr. Halil Ibrahim Sagbas

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Department of Horticulture, Fethiye Faculty of Agriculture, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Fethiye 48300, Mugla, Türkiye
Interests: fruit quality; phytochemical analysis; bioactive compounds; fruit quality and postharvest biology; molecular characterization; natural products chemistry; genetic diversity; abiotic stress physiology

Prof. Dr. Changwen Du

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The State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, China
Interests: agricultural products; infrared spectroscopy; laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; proximal sensing; chemometrics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and aromatic species, are valuable sources of bioactive compounds that contribute to human nutrition, health promotion, and industrial applications. In recent years, growing interest has been directed toward the identification, characterization, and utilization of phytochemicals, as well as the investigation of quality-related traits that determine the nutritional and functional value of horticultural products. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for the publication of original research articles and reviews focusing on bioactive compounds and phytochemical diversity as quality traits in horticultural crops. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, phytochemical profiling, metabolomic approaches, analytical characterization of natural products, antioxidant properties, bioactivity assessments, quality evaluation, genotype-dependent variation, environmental influences, and the effects of cultivation and postharvest practices on phytochemical composition. We welcome contributions that enhance our understanding of the chemistry, diversity, and biological significance of compounds found in horticultural crops and support the development of sustainable and high-quality horticultural production systems.

Dr. Halil Ibrahim Sagbas
Prof. Dr. Changwen Du
Guest Editors

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Research

24 pages, 1822 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Analysis of Phytochemical Compounds in Seeds of Indigenous Grape Varieties Cultivated in Southeastern Anatolia: Fatty Acids, Tocopherols, Phytosterols, Vitamins, and Antioxidant Properties

by Mehmet İlhan Odabaşioğlu, Atilla Çakır, Nesrin Karaca Sanyürek and Fırat İşlek

Molecules 2026, 31(18), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31183168 - 9 Sep 2026

Viewed by 285

Abstract

Aim: In this study, the phytochemical composition of the seeds of twelve different local grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties traditionally cultivated in the Southeastern Anatolia Region (Diyarbakır, Türkiye) was investigated using a holistic approach. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the associations of the effects of berry skin colour, the ripening stage and utilization type on the fatty acid profile, tocopherol and phytosterol contents, vitamin K and D levels, antioxidant capacity (DPPH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) of grape seeds. Method: The seeds of grape varieties belonging to four different colour groups, grown on their own roots, were harvested during the 2017 growing season and analysed. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography (GC), vitamin and phytosterol contents by HPLC-UV, MDA content by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) method, and antioxidant capacity by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Findings: Linoleic acid was identified as the predominant fatty acid in all varieties (53.68–67.06%), followed by oleic acid (13.80–27.32%). α-Tocopherol was identified as the predominant tocopherol form (1.597–4.703 mg kg⁻¹), whilst β-sitosterol was the phytosterol component present at the highest level (915.67–3340.42 µg g⁻¹). Statistically significant varietal differences were detected for most measured phytochemical parameters. Group-wise differences associated with berry skin colour and ripening stage were observed for selected traits. Overall, varietal differences appeared to be more pronounced than those associated with berry skin colour or ripening stage. It was observed that the differences in phytochemical composition between the various commercial classifications of grapes were very limited. Result: The findings reveal that the seeds of the local grape varieties studied exhibit a rich phytochemical profile and represent an important source of bioactive compounds that could be utilised, particularly in the functional food, nutraceutical and cosmetics industries. The ‘Tahannebi’ variety stood out as the one with the highest values across many parameters. Differences observed among samples of the same cultivar collected from different vineyards suggest that vineyard-specific conditions may contribute to variation in selected phytochemical traits. Future multi-year and multi-location studies are needed to confirm the stability of these phytochemical profiles and to further clarify genotype × environment interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds and Phytochemical Diversity as Quality Traits in Horticultural Crops)

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Bioactive Compounds and Phytochemical Diversity as Quality Traits in Horticultural Crops

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