Abstract
Brassicaceae plants are of great interest for human consumption due to their wide variety and nutritional qualities. Of the more than 4000 species that make up this family, about a hundred varieties of 6–8 genera are extensively cultivated. One of the most interesting aspects is its high content of glucosinolates, which are plant secondary metabolites with widely demonstrated anti-oncogenic properties that make them healthy. The most relevant Brassicaceae studies related to food and melatonin are examined in this paper. The role of melatonin as a beneficial agent in seedling grown mainly in cabbage and rapeseed and in the postharvest preservation of broccoli is especially analyzed. The beneficial effect of melatonin treatments on the organoleptic properties of these commonly consumed vegetables can be of great interest in the agri-food industry. Melatonin application extends the shelf life of fresh-cut broccoli while maintaining optimal visual and nutritional parameters. In addition, an integrated model indicating the role of melatonin on the organoleptic properties, the biosynthesis of glucosinolates and the regulatory action of these health-relevant compounds with anti-oncogenic activity is presented.
Highlights
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indolic bioamine derived from tryptophan as a precursor in its biosynthesis
Brassicaceae is a large family of plants that have a wide range of applications, including human consumption in vegetables, seed oils and condiments, livestock in fodder and others
Studies of A. thaliana and melatonin are not included in this review as we focus on Brassicacea of interest as foods
Summary
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indolic bioamine derived from tryptophan as a precursor in its biosynthesis. Phytomelatonin improves the response and tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stressors This function as a biostimulant seems to be related to its multiple regulatory actions on the primary and secondary metabolism of plant cells, possibly through its action on the homeostasis of the redox network and biological rhythms [28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35]. Phytomelatonin is considered a plant master regulator because it seems to regulate the levels and actions of plant hormones. An integrated model is presented showing in detail the role of melatonin on the biosynthesis of glucosinolates, its regulatory action on these compounds with anti-oncogenic activity and its high importance in our diets
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