Cabbage Sprouts Research Articles

Influence of Source Materials, Concentration, Gastric Digestion, and Encapsulation on the Bioactive Response of Brassicaceae-Derived Samples against Helicobacter pylori.

Isothiocyanates may have antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori, but there are different variables related to Brassicaceae-derived samples that could affect their efficacy. This work studied the influence of source variety, concentration, gastric digestion, and encapsulation of samples on their bioactive response against Helicobacter pylori. The antibacterial activity of raw sprouts (red cabbage and red radish) showed the highest antibacterial effect, which was consistent with a higher amount of isothiocyanates. It decreased with gastric digestion, regardless of sample encapsulation. By contrast, adult red radish leaves became antibacterial after gastric digestion. Antioxidant activity on H. pylori-infected gastric cells was similar in all samples and followed an equivalent pattern with the changes in isothiocyanates. Raw samples decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species production, but they lost this capacity after gastric digestion, regardless whether the compounds were free or encapsulated. Red cabbage sprouts, red radish sprouts, and red radish roots produced a decrease in nitric oxide production. It was consistent with a modulation of the inflammatory response and was associated to isothiocyanates concentration. Encapsulated sprout samples retained part of their anti-inflammatory activity after gastric digestion. Adult raw red radish leaves were not active, but after digestion, they became anti-inflammatory. The results obtained in this study have shown that several variables could have a significant impact on the bioactive properties of Brassicaceae-derived samples against H. pylori, providing a starting point for the design and standardization of samples with specific bioactivities (antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory) potentially useful for the treatment of H. pylori infection.

Investigating the role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum vs. spontaneous fermentation in improving nutritional and consumer safety of the fermented white cabbage sprouts.

Brassicaceae sprouts are promising candidates for functional food because of their unique phytochemistry and high nutrient density compared to their seeds and matured vegetables. Despite being admired for their health-promoting properties, white cabbage sprouts have been least explored for their nutritional significance and behavior to lactic acid fermentation. This study aimed to investigate the role of lactic acid fermentation, i.e., inoculum vs. spontaneous, in reducing intrinsic toxicants load and improving nutrients delivering potential of the white cabbage sprouts. White cabbage sprouts with a 5-7cm average size were processed as raw, blanched, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum-inoculated fermentation, and spontaneous fermentation. Plant material was dehydrated at 40°C and evaluated for microbiological quality, macronutrients, minerals, and anti-nutrient contents. The results indicate L. plantarum inoculum fermentation of blanched cabbage sprouts (IF-BCS) to increase lactic acid bacteria count of the sprouts from 0.97 to 8.47 log CFU/g. Compared with the raw cabbage sprouts (RCS), inoculum fermented-raw cabbage sprouts (IF-RCS), and spontaneous fermented-raw cabbage sprouts (SF-RCS), the highest content of Ca (447mg/100g d.w.), Mg (204mg/100g d.w.), Fe (9.3mg/100g d.w.), Zn (5mg/100g d.w.), and Cu (0.5mg/100g d.w.) were recorded in IF-BCS. L. plantarum-led fermentation of BCS demonstrated a reduction in phytates, tannins, and oxalates contents at a rate of 42%, 66%, and 53%, respectively, while standalone lactic acid fermentation of the raw sprouts reduced the burden of anti-nutrients in a range between 32 and 56%. The results suggest L. plantarum-led lactic acid fermentation coupled with sprout blanching is the most promising way to improve the nutritional quality and safety of the white cabbage sprouts.

The effect of LED light quality on the carotenoid metabolism and related gene expression in the genus Brassica

BackgroundNew vegetable production systems, such as vertical farming, but also well-established in-door production methods led to the implementation of light emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs are the most important light sources in modern indoor-production systems and offer the possibility for enhancing growth and specific metabolites in planta. Even though the number of studies investigating the effects of LED lighting on vegetable quality has increased, the knowledge about genus variability is limited. In the present study, the effect of different LED spectra on the metabolic and transcriptional level of the carotenoid metabolism in five different Brassica sprouts was investigated. Cruciferous vegetables are one of the main food crops worldwide. Pak choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis), green kale (Brassica oleracea ssp. sabellica) and turnip cabbage (Brassica oleracea spp. gongylodes) sprouts were grown under a combination of blue & white LEDs, red & white LEDs or only white LEDs to elucidate the genus-specific carotenoid metabolism.ResultsGenus-specific changes in plant weight and on the photosynthetic pigment levels as well as transcript levels have been detected. Interestingly, the transcript levels of the three investigated carotenoid biosynthesis genes phytoene synthase (PSY), β-cyclase (βLCY) and β-carotene hydroxylase (βOHASE1) were increased under the combination of blue & white LEDs in the majority of the Brassica sprouts. However, only in pak choi, the combination of blue & white LEDs enhanced the carotenoid levels by 14% in comparison to only white LEDs and by ~ 19% in comparison to red & white LEDs.ConclusionsThe effects of light quality differ within a genus which leads to the conclusion that production strategies have to be developed for individual species and cultivars to fully benefit from LED technology.

Developing two amino acid derivatives as high-efficient corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in the CO2-containing environment

During the oil and gas exploitation, the corrosion of carbon steel pipes causes great economic loss, heavy casualties, environmental pollution, and waste of resources. The development of highly efficient and stable corrosion inhibitors is of great significance for the corrosion protection of carbon steel in oil and gas exploitation. L-cysteine is widespread in various plants (e.g. onion, cauliflower, and cabbage sprout). As a corrosion inhibitor, it usually has low inhibitive efficiency in most corrosive environment. Chemical modification is the most efficient method to solve this issue. Herein, two synthetic amino acid derivatives (2-phenylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (PTCA) and 2-(thiophen-2-yl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA)) were investigated as high-efficient corrosion inhibitors to deal with the corrosion issue of carbon steel in the CO2-containing environment. The anti-corrosion property of the amino acid derivatives was investigated by electrochemical experiment, surface technique and theoretical calculations. The electrochemical results show that PTCA and TTCA present high corrosion inhibition efficiencies at the concentration of 0.8 mM: PTCA (99.1%) and TTCA (99.3%). The inhibitive mechanism of PTCA and TTCA on carbon steel surface is revealed by theoretical calculations. It is found that the PTCA and TTCA adsorb at the steel/solution interface by forming Fe-O bonds. Compared to PTCA, TTCA exhibits stronger adsorption on carbon steel surface by forming shorter Fe-O bonds with a more negative adsorption energy, which accounts for the better inhibitive performance of TTCA.

Mutual Effects of Zinc Concentration and Ratio of Red-Blue Light on Growth and Nutritional Quality of Flowering Chinese Cabbage Sprouts

The nutritional quality and biomass of various sprouts can be enhanced by Zn and red-blue light, especially the Brassica sprouts. However, the combined effects of this two on sprouts are rarely reported. In this study, different Zn concentrations (0, 1.74, 3.48, 10.43 and 17.39 mM) were combined with two ratios of red-blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (R: B = 1:2, 1R2B; R: B = 2:1, 2R1B, at 70 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD, 14 h/10 h, light/dark) to investigate their mutual effects on the growth, mineral elements, and nutritional quality in flowering Chinese cabbage sprouts (FCCS). Fresh weight, dry weight, contents of organic Zn, soluble sugar, vitamin C, total flavonoids, total polyphenol, FRAP (ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (radical inhibition percentage of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) were significantly increased by Zn supplement (10.43 and 17.39 mM) and 2R1B, while hypocotyl length and moisture content were decreased remarkably by Zn supplement. Total glucosinolates contents in the sprouts increased dramatically under 2R1B compared with 1R2B, while photosynthetic pigments contents decreased. Heat map and principal component analysis showed that 2R1B + 17.39 mM Zn was the optimal treatment for the accumulation of biomass and health-promoting compound in FCCS, suggesting that a suitable combination of light quality and Zn supplement might be beneficial to zinc-biofortified FCCS production.

Effects of blue light on physiological and biochemical changes in germinating cabbage sprouts

Sprouts as a natural food have been commonly consumed in different cultures, which are richer in health-promoting compounds than their mature counterparts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of blue light on physiological and biochemical changes including sprout length, respiratory rate, free amino acids, ascorbic acid, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates and myrosinase activity in germinating cabbage sprouts. Furthermore, their correlation analysis was conducted to elucidate their changing patterns during germination and relationships with each other. The respiratory rate, free amino acids and ascorbic acid content were greatly enhanced by blue light compared to the darkness. Blue light could better retain glucosinolate content in cabbage sprouts than the darkness. More isothiocyanates formation was observed from cabbage sprouts under blue light, which was a result of the promoted myrosinase activity and higher glucosinolate content. These results indicate that blue light has selectively improved the nutritional compounds in germinated cabbage sprouts.

The simple and rapid quantification method for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) from plant sprout using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is one of the important secondary metabolites of plants and has been used for various purposes, such as in clinical treatment for Parkinson's disease and dopamine-responsive dystonia. In plants, L-DOPA is a precursor of many alkaloids, catecholamines, and melanin; the L-DOPA synthesis pathway is similar to that in mammals. L-DOPA acts as an allelochemical, has an important role in several biological processes, such as stress response and metabolism, in plants. L-DOPA is widely used in the clinical treatment as well as a dietary supplement or psychotropic drug, understanding of biosynthesis of L-DOPA in plant could lead to a stable supply of L-DOPA. This paper describes an improved method for simple and rapid quantification of L-DOPA content using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The standard quantitative methods for L-DOPA require multiple purification steps or relatively large amounts of plant material. In our improved method, quantification of L-DOPA was possible with extract of one-two pieces of cotyledon without any partitioning or column for purification. The endogenous L-DOPA (approximately 4,000 µg g-1 FW (fresh weight)) could be detected from the one pieces of cotyledon of the faba bean sprout using this method. This method was also effective for samples with low endogenous amounts of L-DOPA such as broccoli, Japanese white radish, pea, and red cabbage sprouts. Therefore, this improved method will allow to measurement of L-DOPA content easily and accurately from a small amount of plant tissue and contribute to understanding biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport of L-DOPA.

UV-B Radiation as Abiotic Elicitor to Enhance Phytochemicals and Development of Red Cabbage Sprouts

Background: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of periodical UV-B illumination during red cabbage germination on morphological development and the phenolics and carotenoid accumulation. Methods: During a sprouting period of 10 days at 20 °C in darkness, seedlings received 5, 10, or 15 kJ m−2 UV-B (T5, T10, and T15) applied in four steps (25% on days 3, 5, 7, and 10). UV untreated sprouts were used as control (CTRL). After 10 days of germination, the sprouts were harvested and stored 10 days at 4 °C as a minimally processed product. Phenolic and carotenoid compounds were analysed 1 h after each UV-B application and on days 0, 4, 7, and 10 during cold storage. Results: The longest hypocotyl length was observed in T10-treated sprouts. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased during germination following a sigmoidal kinetic, especially in the UV-B-treated samples, which reported a dose-dependent behaviour. In this way, T10-treated sprouts increased the TPC by 40% after 10 days at 4 °C compared to CTRL, while TAC and TFC increased by 35 and 30%, respectively. Carotenoids were enhanced with higher UV-B doses (T15). Conclusions: We found that UV-B stimulated the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds, and a dose of 10 kJ m−2 UV-B, proportionally applied on days 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, is recommended.

Evidence on the Bioaccessibility of Glucosinolates and Breakdown Products of Cruciferous Sprouts by Simulated In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.

Cruciferous vegetables are gaining importance as nutritious and sustainable foods, rich in phytochemical compounds such as glucosinolates (GSLs). However, the breakdown products of these sulfur-based compounds, mainly represented by isothiocyanates (ITC) and indoles, can contribute to human health. In the human digestive system, the formation of these compounds continues to varying extents in the different stages of digestion, due to the contact of GSLs with different gastric fluids and enzymes under the physicochemical conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to uncover the effect of gastrointestinal digestion on the release of glucosinolates and their transformation into their bioactive counterparts by applying a simulated in vitro static model on a range of brassica (red radish, red cabbage, broccoli, and mustard) sprouts. In this sense, significantly higher bioaccessibility of ITC and indoles from GSLs of red cabbage sprouts was observed in comparison with broccoli, red radish, and mustard sprouts, due to the aliphatic GSLs proportion present in the different sprouts. This indicates that the bioaccessibility of GSLs from Brasicaceae sprouts is not exclusively associated with the initial content of these compounds in the plant material (almost negligible), but also with the release of GSLs and the ongoing breakdown reactions during the gastric and intestinal phases of digestion, respectively. Additionally, aliphatic GSLs provided higher bioaccessibility of their corresponding ITC in comparison to indolic and aromatic GSLs.

Effect of Red Cabbage Sprouts Treating with Organic Acids on the Content of Polyphenols, Antioxidant Properties and Colour Parameters

In recent years, there has been a great deal of consumer interest in consuming vegetables in the form of sprouts, characterized by high nutritional value. The disadvantage of sprouts is the loss of bioactive compounds during storage and the relatively short shelf life, due to the fact that they are a good medium for microorganisms, especially yeasts and molds. The aim of the study was to compare the content of polyphenols, antioxidant properties, color and microbiological quality of red cabbage sprouts preserved by the use of mild organic acids: Citric, ascorbic, lactic, acetic and peracetic. In the study, the content of polyphenols and antioxidant properties of sprouts was examined using the spectrophotometric method, instrumental color measurement was done using an “electronic eye” and the content of mold, yeast and the total number of mesophilic microorganisms was determined using the plate inoculation method. Taking into account the content of polyphenols and the antioxidant potential of sprouts, it was found that the addition of all organic acids contributed to the preservation of the tested compounds during their 14-day storage under refrigerated conditions, depending on the type of organic acid used, from 71 to 86% for polyphenols and from 75 to 96% for antioxidant properties. The best results were obtained by treating the sprouts with peracetic acid and ascorbic acid, respectively, at a concentration of 80 ppm and 1%. The conducted research on the possibility of extending the storage life and preserving the bioactive properties of fresh sprouts showed that the use of peracetic acid in the form of an aqueous solution during pre-treatment allows to reduce the content of microorganisms by one logarithmic order. Ascorbic acid did not reduce the content of microorganisms in the sprout samples tested. Considering the content of bioactive ingredients, as well as the microbiological quality of fresh sprouts, it can be said that there is a great need to use mild organic acids during the pre-treatment of sprouts in order to maintain a high level of health-promoting ingredients during their storage, which may also contribute to their prolongation durability.

Jasmonic acid regulating glucosinolates-myrosinase system of cabbage sprouts

Jasmonic acid regulating glucosinolates-myrosinase system of cabbage sprouts

Host plant penetration, development and life cycle of a Heterodera schachtii population from the Western Cape province, South Africa

Heterodera schachtii (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), also called the sugar beet cyst nematode, are of economic importance worldwide. Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), which is a crop of global importance, suffers yield loss when it is infected with H. schachtii. The first report of the occurrence of H. schachtii in South Africa was made in 1968 on the Greater Cape Flats of the Western Cape province of South Africa, showing the widespread occurrence and the high nematode numbers on cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot and Brussels sprouts. The penetration, development and life cycle of a local H. schachtii population on seven vegetables (beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and turnip) and three weeds (black nightshade, purslane and shepherd’s purse) commonly grown, or found, in the Greater Cape Flats region of the Western Cape, South Africa, and two candidate trap crops (white mustard and oilseed radish) were examined under laboratory conditions. All the vegetables and weeds were found to be good hosts of H. schachtii, with the exception of lettuce, which was found to be a non-host. Oilseed radish and white mustard allowed penetration and some nematode development, but no, or little, cyst formation. Female bodies filled with eggs were observed from 31 to 34 days after inoculation onwards on all the vegetables and weeds, except for on beetroot, on which female bodies filled with eggs were observed a few days later. The results from this study are important, especially in terms of the adaptation of vegetable crop rotation cycles that are practised on the Cape Flats, so as to prevent the build-up of H. schachtii populations in agricultural settings.

Improving the phytochemical profile and bioactivity of Chinese cabbage sprouts by interspecific transfer of metabolites

The high demand for healthy food in recent years has led to an increasing need for highly bioactive plant materials. One such plant, Chinese cabbage, possesses flavonoids with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, but they appear in low quantities. The interspecific transfer of metabolites is a promising technique that could contribute to the increase of the beneficial properties of food. The objective of the study was to determine how an interspecific source-sink phytochemical transfer from donor extracts to the Chinese cabbage affects its phenolic and vitamin C profile and intestinal bioaccessibility, hypoglycemic potential and antioxidant capacity. In addition, sprouts treated with Rosa sp. and Hypericum perforatum extracts showed better antiproliferative effect towards human breast adenocarcinoma cells than untreated sprouts. The results suggest that treatment of plants with donor extracts is a promising approach to improve the nutritional and phytochemical profile and bioactive properties of acceptor plants.

Blue LED light irradiation enhances L-ascorbic acid content while reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation in Chinese cabbage seedlings

Chinese cabbage is one of the most representative vegetables in Southeast Asia and a main source of L-Ascorbic acid (AsA) for the human diet. In this study, we applied different light qualities (red, blue and white) supported by light-emitting diode (LED) device to enhance AsA content in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) seedlings. Based on our results, blue LED light irradiation with an intensity of 125 μmol m−2s−1 increased the AsA content of five-day-grown Chinese cabbage seedlings by 40% compared with white LED light irradiation. Accordingly, blue LED light irradiation induced expression of the AsA biosynthetic- and recycling-related genes. Interestingly, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content of Chinese cabbage seedlings was decreased by blue LED light irradiation. In addition, the technology improving AsA content by blue LED light irradiation was applicable to other edible vegetable sprouts as well as to Chinese cabbage sprouts. Conclusively, our report introduces a source technology for artificially improving the AsA content of Chinese cabbage seedlings by applying blue LED light, which implies that application of certain types of LED light enables on-purpose cultivation of crops.

Determination of Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Content in Grains and Cruciferous Vegetable Seeds

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) has great physiological functions, mainly as a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which makes it important for the development of functional foods. This study detected GABA in grains and cruciferous vegetable seeds by using HPLC after pre-column on-line derivatization with diode array detection (DAD) and fluorescence detection (FLD). The limit of quantitation was 2.94 and 2.86 µg/mL with DAD and FLD, respectively. GABA recoveries ranged from 98.8 to 111.2% on both detectors. Intra and inter-day precision showed relative standard deviations, generally, less than 10% for both DAD and FLD. GABA was determined in different grains (flaxseeds, white quinoa seeds, and buckwheat) and cruciferous vegetable seeds (broccoli, kale, daikon radish, mustard, cabbage, and brussels sprouts). Organic broccoli seeds contained the highest amount and mustard seeds the least amount of GABA in the Brassica family with none being detected in organic white quinoa and flaxseeds. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) exists between the various lots of the broccoli seeds. GABA is important as a natural source in functional foods.

Developmentally-related changes in phenolic and L-ascorbic acid content and antioxidant capacity of Chinese cabbage sprouts.

The phytochemical and antioxidant properties of mature (head stage) Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) are known; however, data on the phenolic profile, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) content and antioxidant capacity of its fresh sprouts are lacking. Since the human consumption of fresh cruciferous sprouts has significantly increased in recent years, their nutritional characterization has become a somewhat urgent matter. Therefore, inthis study the contents of total phenolics, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids were measured spectrophotometrically, whereas individual flavonoids, phenolic acids and vitamin C were identified and quantified using a newly-developed high performance liquid chromatography method. Also, the antioxidant capacity of five Chinese cabbage sprout growth stages was determined. These stages contained either cotyledons only (seedlings), cotyledons and two leaves, four leaves, six leaves, or ten leaves. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HC) were implemented in order to visualize the classification trend between the stages. Seedlings contained more sinapic acid and vitamin C than older plants. Plants containing six or ten leaves had more ferulic acid and isorhamnetin than younger ones. Total phenolics, flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids, quercetin and antioxidant capacity did not statistically differ between seedlings and stages with six or ten leaves and their concentrations were significantly higher than in stages with two or four leaves. PCA and HC confirmed the higher phytochemical similarity between seedlings and plants with six or ten leaves than plants with two or four leaves. Therefore, Chinese cabbage seedlings and plants with six or ten leaves should be preferred over plants with two or four leaves, which were ultimately shown to be of lesser nutritional quality.

Toxicity assessment of chlorpyrifos-degrading fungal bio-composites and their environmental risks

Bioremediation techniques coupling with functional microorganisms have emerged as the most promising approaches for in-situ elimination of pesticide residue. However, the environmental safety of bio-products based on microorganisms or engineered enzymes was rarely known. Here, we described the toxicity assessment of two previously fabricated fungal bio-composites which were used for the biodegradation of chlorpyrifos, to clarify their potential risks on the environment and non-target organisms. Firstly, the acute and chronic toxicity of prepared bio-composites were evaluated using mice and rabbits, indicating neither acute nor chronic effect was induced via short-term or continuous exposure. Then, the acute mortality on zebrafish was investigated, which implied the application of fungal bio-composites had no lethal risk on aquatic organisms. Meanwhile, the assessment on soil organic matters suggested that no threat was posed to soil quality. Finally, by monitoring, the germination of cabbage was not affected by the exposure to two bio-products. Therefore, the application of fungal bio-composites for chlorpyrifos elimination cannot induce toxic risk to the environment and non-target organisms, which insured the safety of these engineered bio-products for realistic management of pesticide residue, and provided new insights for further development of bioremediation techniques based on functional microorganisms.

Somewhere in Space by Talvikki Ansel

Reviewed by: Somewhere in Space by Talvikki Ansel Carol Quinn Talvikki Ansel. Somewhere in Space. The Ohio State University Press, 2015. Talvikki Ansel’s third collection of poems, Somewhere in Space, received The Ohio State University Press/The Journal Award in Poetry. In sumptuous detail, these poems consider displacement, folkloric narratives and origins, and the buffer zones that exist between human subjectivity and the natural world—subjects that have long been present in Ansel’s poetry. In the poet’s quest for an authentic engagement with nature (often via rigorous, complex, and elaborate meditations), the poems of Somewhere in Space both invoke what might, in Scandinavia, be called friluftsliv, and attempt to replicate that experience for a reader. In Nordic countries, the term friluftsliv is used to describe an expansive, possibly oceanic state of mind that human beings may experience upon leaving urban life behind and returning to a more natural setting. Hans Gelter of the Luleå University of Technology defines friluftsliv—meaning “free air life”—as “a philosophical lifestyle based on experiences of the freedom in nature and the spiritual connectedness with the landscape.” Gelter traces the word’s origin to Henrik Ibsen’s 1859 poem “On the Heights,” where, in the course of being in a cottage in the wilderness, the poem’s narrator declares, “This is Friluftsliv for my thoughts . . .” In contemporary Scandinavia, friluftsliv may be taken into consideration in aspects of life ranging from elementary education to real estate sales to work-life balance. Gelter argues for a historical opposition, however, between friluftsliv and “tourism,” suggesting that tourism is only “a superficial acquaintance with nature.” Following a current of thought that would strictly differentiate between social issues and the natural world, some readers could potentially view Ansel’s meditations upon nature as escapist in a time of political unrest, when the poetry of protest is by necessity an ascending force on the American literary scene. Ansel’s turning to nature is actually a daring political choice, however, in an era when climate change—quite possibly the greatest crisis of this century—has been brought on by humanity’s lack of regard for, and attempts to separate itself from, the natural world. Central to Ansel’s project in Somewhere in Space is the poem “Mycorrhizae”: When you dig up a tree, keep some of the soil around the roots, webby strands wrap the taproot, the calm anchor, reach horizontal through duff and toad dung, damp mold. Things move so discreetly sometimes, I didn’t even notice. A tiger’s ear flares in shade. Was that the water molecule’s elemental split? The sleight of hand described on page twenty? No, not exactly, you prop a shingle barrier up to shelter a wind-torn cabbage sprout. Strawberries edge the bed, an upside down pot keeps rain from the post hold, another adage proved: plant at the new moon, a stitch in time saves nine, if you must leave, don’t go bare, take some dirt with you. “Mycorrhizae” proposes, among other things, that the world is more complicated than the artificial categories and dichotomies that human beings invent. Mycorrhizae are fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with a plant’s root system and act as a conduit between that plant and the soil around it. Transplants can fail, the poem suggests, if such connections are not taken into consideration. [End Page 21] Displacement is an issue that recurs throughout Talvikki Ansel’s poetry. In My Shining Archipelago, which won the Yale Series of Younger Poets prize in 1996, Ansel meditates upon transplantation and alienation in the sonnet sequence “Afterwards: Caliban,” a long poem that imagines the life of The Tempest’s Caliban in London, after he has been taken from Prospero’s island. In Somewhere in Space, “Mycorrhizae” suggests that human beings who spend their lives confined to cities and workplaces—with the associated stresses, alienation, isolation, and sensory deprivation—are like transplants with bare roots: we are far more likely to survive if we remember our connections to the natural world. In other poems, Ansel seeks to find emblems for human displacement, as in “Places to Swim”: In town this week, two people found goldfish balanced in...

Isothiocyanates, Nitriles, and Epithionitriles from Glucosinolates Are Affected by Genotype and Developmental Stage in Brassica oleracea Varieties.

Vegetables of the Brassica oleracea group, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, play an important role for glucosinolate consumption in the human diet. Upon maceration of the vegetable tissue, glucosinolates are degraded enzymatically to form volatile isothiocyanates, nitriles, and epithionitriles. However, only the uptake of isothiocyanates is linked to the cancer-preventive effects. Thus, it is of great interest to evaluate especially the isothiocyanate formation. Here, we studied the formation of glucosinolates and their respective hydrolysis products in sprouts and fully developed vegetable heads of different genotypes of the five B. oleracea varieties: broccoli, cauliflower as well as white, red, and savoy cabbages. Further, the effect of ontogeny (developmental stages) during the head development on the formation of glucosinolates and their respective hydrolysis products was evaluated at three different developmental stages (mini, fully developed, and over-mature head). Broccoli and red cabbage were mainly rich in 4-(methylsulfinyl)butyl glucosinolate (glucoraphanin), whereas cauliflower, savoy cabbage and white cabbage contained mainly 2-propenyl (sinigrin) and 3-(methylsulfinyl)propyl glucosinolate (glucoiberin). Upon hydrolysis, epithionitriles or nitriles were often observed to be the main hydrolysis products, with 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane being most abundant with up to 5.7 μmol/g fresh weight in white cabbage sprouts. Notably, sprouts often contained more than 10 times more glucosinolates or their hydrolysis products compared to fully developed vegetables. Moreover, during head development, both glucosinolate concentrations as well as hydrolysis product concentrations changed and mini heads contained the highest isothiocyanate concentrations. Thus, from a cancer-preventive point of view, consumption of mini heads of the B. oleracea varieties is recommended.

Heat Shock Enhances Isothiocyanate Formation and Antioxidant Capacity of Cabbage Sprouts

In this study, isothiocyanate formation and antioxidant capacity of cabbage sprouts under heat shock at 40, 50 and 60C were investigated. Results showed that cabbage sprouts under 60C of heat shock had the highest isothiocyanate formation and antioxidant capacity. Heat shock increased glucosinolate biosynthesis and isothiocyanate formation as well as myrosinase activity, but decreased ESP activity. Except CYP79F1, AOP2 and ESP (epithiospecifier protein), expressions of other genes related to glucosinolate biosynthesis and isothiocyanate formation were upregulated by heat shock. In addition, heat shock created an adverse environment and had a negative effect on cabbage sprouts growth, but increased ascorbic acid, total phenolics content and antioxidant enzyme activity. Hence, heat shock enhanced antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, heat shock enhanced the isothiocyanate formation via increasing glucosinolates biosynthesis and their degradation efficiency, increased ascorbic acid, total phenolics content and antioxidant enzyme activity so that enhanced the antioxidant capacity of cabbage sprouts. Practical Applications Cabbage sprouts have been becoming a potential kind of functional foods to provide certain beneficial function for their abundant functional substrates including glucosinolate and its hydrolysate isothiocyanate, etc. In this study, after heat shock at 60C, isothiocyanate, ascorbic acid and total phenolics content effectively enhanced to increase antioxidant capacity. This study is to develop a method for producing cabbage sprouts rich in health-promoting components.