High-Resolution UPLC-MS Profiling of Anthocyanins and Flavonols of Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra DC.) Cultivated in Egypt and Evaluation of Their Biological Activity

In this paper, biological investigations and a high-resolution UPLC-PDA-ESI-qTOF-HRMS technique were employed for Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra DC. (red cabbage) of the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), cultivated in Egypt, for the first time. The positive ionization mode is usually performed to identify anthocyanins. However, this technique cannot differentiate between anthocyanins and corresponding non-anthocyanin polyphenols. Thus, the negative ionization mode was also used, as it provided a series of characteristic ions for the MS analysis of anthocyanins. This helped in identifying five kaempferol derivatives for the first time in red cabbage, as well as nine—previously reported—anthocyanins. For the biological investigations, the acidified methanolic extract of fresh leaves and the methanolic extract of air-dried powdered leaves were examined for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The freshly prepared phenolic extract was proven to be more biologically potent. Statistical significance was determined for its anticancer activity in comparison with standard doxorubicin.

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.

Young Shoots and Mature Red Cabbage Inhibit Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis of Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Recent dietary and epidemiological studies have suggested the benefit of dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables in lowering the incidence of cancer. The health promoting effects of red cabbage are attributed to their mixture of phytochemicals known for their antioxidant and anticancer activity. In the current study, we investigated whether young shoots and mature red cabbage had any effect on prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and LNCaP). Attempts were also made to identify the potential molecular mechanism(s) by which plant material elicits its biological effects on prostate cancer cell lines. Here we report that the studied vegetable inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells and that this process was associated with the induction of apoptosis via caspase-dependent and both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. In addition, we also observed the regulation of genes and proteins associated with cell survival and apoptotic events.

Planting dates and seedling age of red cabbage during the spring season in Uzbekistan

The importance of red cabbage for expanding the range of vegetable crops in Uzbekistan is highlighted in this paper. The results of three-year (2018-2020) studies on the comparative assessment of the effectiveness of three spring planting dates (March 5-9, 13-16 and 25-27) at three seedling ages (70, 60 and 50 days) at each planting date were presented. It was revealed that the later the seeds are sown to obtain seedlings for spring culture, the faster the seedlings appear and the more the seedlings form leaves. With the postponement of the timing of planting seedlings, the survival rate of seedlings increases. It has been established that the later the seedlings are planted, the higher the temperatures are the growth of plants and the formation of heads. The most unfavorable temperature conditions are formed when the seedlings are planted on March 25-27, which causes a delay at the beginning of the formation of heads of cabbage, an increase in the number of leaves of a root rosette, a decrease in the setting and average weight of heads of cabbage and their marketability. The best indicators of head set-up, their average weight and marketability, yield per unit area are provided when planting on March 14-16, 70 and 60-day old seedlings. Planting seedlings on March 25-27, seedlings of any age, due to the formation of heads of cabbage at excessively high temperatures, delays the flow of products, reduces the setting, average weight and marketability of heads of cabbage and significantly reduces the yield per unit area. It is recommended for a spring culture to plant on March 14-16 with 70 and 60-day old seedlings and not allow planting at the end of March.