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Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and...
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Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2857

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alessandra Bonetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano n.10, Sesto F.No, 50019 Florence, Italy
Interests: plant secondary metabolites; medicinal plants; antioxidant and nutraceutical compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite your contributions to the Second Edition of ‘Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture’.

Secondary metabolites, thanks to advancements in biochemistry and plant physiology, are now a reality of plant chemistry and physiology and have been employed in many fields of food and crop production, health care, and agriculture. Thanks to their ability to improve human health and provide protection from diseases, owing to their employment in integrators and to the higher awareness of consumers, they are now all well known.

Moreover, the need to employ sustainable, low-impact, and “green” practices in agriculture has enlightened their role in crop health, with many opportunities in organic and conventional farming.

Finally, the need to adapt agricultural production to climatic change, in particular to drought problems, has transformed secondary metabolites into important actors in drought resistance, and knowledge of their drought stress mechanisms could help in facing the next generation of climatic challenges.

The second edition of this Special Issue will present the latest scientific advances regarding our knowledge of the properties of many secondary metabolites.

Dr. Alessandra Bonetti
Guest Editor

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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • antioxidants
  • traditional plants
  • natural preservatives
  • biostimulants
  • organic farming
  • polyphenols flavonoid
  • anthocyanins
  • natural preservatives

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2103 KiB  
Article
Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Antioxidant Profiling of Five Varieties of Ribes nigrum Grown in Romania
by Ruxandra Ștefănescu, Francisc Boda, Monica Sebestyen, Ioana Râșteiu, Eszter Laczkó-Zöld and Lénárd Farczádi
Plants 2025, 14(11), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14111604 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) are recognized for their rich anthocyanin content, contributing to their health-promoting properties. This study explored the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of five blackcurrant varieties (Gofert, Tiben, Ceres, Ronix, and Ruben) cultivated in Mureș County, Romania. Using HPLC-DAD [...] Read more.
Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) are recognized for their rich anthocyanin content, contributing to their health-promoting properties. This study explored the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of five blackcurrant varieties (Gofert, Tiben, Ceres, Ronix, and Ruben) cultivated in Mureș County, Romania. Using HPLC-DAD analysis, cyanidin-rutinoside was identified as the predominant anthocyanin in all varieties. Ruben stood out with the highest anthocyanin concentration and antioxidant activity, highlighting its potential for functional food and nutraceutical applications. The high anthocyanin content determined in these varieties suggests the influence of hybridization and unique regional growing conditions. Antioxidant activity, assessed through 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) (ABTS) assays, showed strong correlations with anthocyanin content, though polyphenolic levels did not consistently align with antioxidant efficacy. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring blackcurrant cultivation to optimize bioactive compound production and support further exploration of their therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2241 KiB  
Article
Impact of Sustainable Soil Cropping Management on the Production and Stability of Bioactive Compounds in Tanacetum balsamita L. by Cold Pressure Extraction
by Alessandra Bonetti, Martina Grattacaso, Sara Di Lonardo and Luigi Paolo D’Acqui
Plants 2025, 14(6), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060948 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 306
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of agronomic amendments, such as compost and bioinoculants (mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria), and eco-friendly agronomic practices, on the crop yield and stability of extracted Tanacetum balsamita L.’s bioactive compounds, which were obtained through cold pressure (Timatic). [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of agronomic amendments, such as compost and bioinoculants (mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria), and eco-friendly agronomic practices, on the crop yield and stability of extracted Tanacetum balsamita L.’s bioactive compounds, which were obtained through cold pressure (Timatic). Plants were cultivated under four treatments: compost, bioinoculant, combination (bioinoculants + compost), and control treatments. After harvesting, the bioactive compounds were extracted and stored for one year at 4 °C and room temperature. Total polyphenols, IC50 values (DPPH test), and anti-radical activity (ORAC test) were assessed, and High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography analyses of polyphenolic profiles were performed. After 12 months, the quantified bioactive compounds exhibited a reduction of 1.5% to 5.6% at 4 °C, while more pronounced decreases were observed at room temperature: control (93%), compost (8.9%), bioinoculant (32.7%), and bioinoculant + compost (93.4%). Moreover, antioxidant and anti-radical activity were maintained in all treatments at 4 °C, whereas only the bioinoculant and compost treatments exhibited these activities at room temperature. The analysis of bioactive compounds in the 4 °C extracts indicated a statistically significant decline in quercetin and chlorogenic acid across all treatments, with caffeic acid remaining detectable after 12 months. In contrast, at room temperature, chlorogenic acid, di-caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin were retained only in the bioinoculant and compost treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 6303 KiB  
Article
Physical-Chemical Characterization of Fruit Harvested at Different Maturity Stages of Grafted Yellow Pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw.)
by Jessica Sanmiguel, Valdemar Andrade, Yadira Vargas-Tierras, Iván Samaniego, Fernando Paredes-Arcos, Wilson Vásquez-Castillo and William Viera-Arroyo
Plants 2025, 14(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020178 - 10 Jan 2025
Viewed by 901
Abstract
The physicochemical properties of fruits at different maturity stages using grafting technology are of great importance since grafting can alter the nutritional and functional parameters of the fruit. In this study, grafted yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw.) fruit, grown on live tutors, [...] Read more.
The physicochemical properties of fruits at different maturity stages using grafting technology are of great importance since grafting can alter the nutritional and functional parameters of the fruit. In this study, grafted yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw.) fruit, grown on live tutors, was evaluated from stages 0 to 5. The following response variables were recorded: fruit weight, diameter, and length; pulp weight with seed and peel; color; firmness; total soluble solids content; titratable acidity; pH; total flavonoid content; total polyphenol content; and antioxidant activity determined using FRAP and ABTS. The results show that fruits harvested from grafted plants have better physical characteristics such as fruit weight, diameter, and length. However, the total soluble solids content and titratable acidity were similar in fruits from grafted and ungrafted plants. The highest content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity determined by ABTS and FRAP were found in fruits at maturity stage 0, and the content decreased as the fruits ripened. A positive correlation was found between the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity with protein content. The S. megalanthus grafting technique is a promising technology for sustainable production because it reduces pesticide use by combatting soil pathogens and not modifying fruit quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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25 pages, 2730 KiB  
Review
Red-Leafed Lettuces: Genetic Variation or Epigenetic Photomorphogenesis?
by Natalya V. Smirnova, Ivan A. Timofeenko and Konstantin V. Krutovsky
Plants 2025, 14(3), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030363 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1112
Abstract
Red-leaf lettuces, rich in bioactive compounds like anthocyanins and flavonoids, offer health benefits by reducing oxidative stress and boosting immunity. This article provides an extensive review of the genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and technological factors influencing anthocyanin biosynthesis and leaf coloration in red-leaf lettuce, [...] Read more.
Red-leaf lettuces, rich in bioactive compounds like anthocyanins and flavonoids, offer health benefits by reducing oxidative stress and boosting immunity. This article provides an extensive review of the genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and technological factors influencing anthocyanin biosynthesis and leaf coloration in red-leaf lettuce, emphasizing its significance in agriculture and nutrition. The genetics of anthocyanin biosynthesis, environmental influences, practical applications, agronomic insights, and future directions are the main areas covered. Anthocyanin accumulation is regulated by structural, regulatory, and transporter genes, as well as the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex. Mutations in these genes impact coloration and stress responses. Advances in genomic studies, such as GWAS and QTL mapping, have identified key genes and pathways involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, aiding breeding programs for desirable traits. In addition, light intensity, stress conditions (e.g., drought, temperature), and phytohormones affect anthocyanin levels and photomorphogenesis in general. Controlled environments, like vertical farms, optimize these conditions to enhance pigmentation and phytochemical content. LED lighting and tailored cultivation techniques improve color intensity, antioxidant capacity, and yield in controlled settings. Sustainable production technologies for red-leaf lettuce in vertical farms are being developed to meet consumer demand and promote functional foods, integrating genetic, epigenetic, and environmental research into agronomy. This review highlights red-leaf lettuce’s aesthetic, nutritional, and functional value, advocating for innovative cultivation methods to enhance its market and health potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Plants—Health Care, Food Production and Green Agriculture, 2nd Edition)
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