Biologically Active Compounds in Mustard Seeds: A Toxicological Perspective

Mustard plants have been widely cultivated and used as spice, medicine and as source of edible oils. Currently, the use of the seeds of the mustard species Sinapis alba (white mustard or yellow mustard), Brassica juncea (brown mustard) and Brassica nigra (black mustard) in the food and beverage industry is immensely growing due to their nutritional and functional properties. The seeds serve as a source for a wide range of biologically active components including isothiocyanates that are responsible for the specific flavor of mustard, and tend to reveal conflicting results regarding possible health effects. Other potentially undesirable or toxic compounds, such as bisphenol F, erucic acid or allergens, may also occur in the seeds and in mustard products intended for human consumption. The aim of this article is to provide comprehensive information about potentially harmful compounds in mustard seeds and to evaluate potential health risks as an increasing use of mustard seeds is expected in the upcoming years.

The pathogenic mycobium in seeds of cultural plant varieties

The number phytopathogenic micromycetes is determined in the seeds of such cultivated varieties of cultural plant as soybeans, sunflowers, yellow mustard, buckwheat and thistle, which are grown by organic technology. It is shown that the number of micromycetes in the plant seeds differs significantly and ranges from 0.2 to 1.3 thousand NCO/g seeds. It depends on properties plants variety and hybrid, which are characterized by some certain set of physiological and biochemical characteristics that influences the formation seed mycobiome and it is quantitative composition. In the seeds varieties of these crops we identified such species of the phytopathogenic fungi as Alternaria alternate Fr., Fusarium oxysporum Schleht, Cladosporium herbarum Lket Gray, Botrytiscinerea Pers. Ex Fr., Ascochyta fagopyri Bres., Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire, Aspergillus P. Micheliex Haller, Pénicillium Link. It was found that the species composition of phytopathogenic micromycetes in the seeds of soybean cultivar Kent and thistle Riches is much more diverse than the seeds other crops dominated by fungi A. alternate and F. oxysporum, which are characterized by different frequency of occurrence. These phytopathogenic fungi can cause plant diseases at different stages of ontogenesis, produce mycotoxins and reduce the quality of plant products. In the mycobiome of seeds buckwheat varieties Sophia, Sуn and sunflower hybrids Oscar and Oliver are dominated by fungi of the genus Pénicillium аnd Aspergillus (60–90%). The seeds affected by saprotrophic fungi can be reinfected during storage. This reduces its field and laboratory germination of the seeds. Saprotrophic fungi that dominate the seeds significantly impair its quality during storage and cause dangerous plant diseases in agrophytocenoses during the cultivation of this variety/hybrid. This requires the application of additional preventive protection measures of plants. Mycobioma mustard seeds of а yellow variety Ford represents a small number the phytopathogenic micromycetes. This may indicate its environmental safety in organic production. Thus, the analyzed research results indicate a significant differentiation in varieties species as to composition and number of phytopathogenic species of micromycetes in the seed mycobioma. Therefore, in order to avoid ecologic risks and biological contamination of agrocenoses, it is necessary to test the seeds, as on the density of the mycobiome and on the frequency of phytopathogenic micromycetes damage.

Erucic Acid-Rich Yellow Mustard Oil Improves Insulin Resistance in KK-Ay Mice

Obesity is a major risk factor for some metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Enhancement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is known to increase insulin-sensitive small adipocytes. In contrast, decreased PPARγ activity is also reported to improve insulin resistance. We have previously identified erucic acid as a novel natural component suppressing PPARγ transcriptional activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of erucic acid-rich yellow mustard oil (YMO) on obese/diabetic KK-Ay mice. An in vitro luciferase reporter assay and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation assay revealed that 25 µg/mL YMO significantly inhibited PPARγ transcriptional activity and differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes but promoted their differentiation into osteoblasts. In KK-Ay mice, dietary intake of 7.0% (w/w) YMO significantly decreased the surrogate indexes for insulin resistance and the infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue. Furthermore, 7.0% YMO increased bone mineral density. These results suggest that YMO can ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disorders.

Efficiency of using seeder crops for uncomplacing soil in the technology of cultivation of potato

Relevance. The formation of the potato yield, along with a balanced diet, is significantly influenced by the physical condition of the soil, namely the hardness of the soil. As a basic option for soil decompaction, a technological method of soil cultivation to a depth of up to 40 cm using chiselless tools is currently used. As an alternative, biological means of soil decompaction can be used by introducing fields occupied by green manure crops into the crop rotation during the entire field season. The purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of a new technological method of soil decompaction, which consists in the use of green manure crops in potato crop rotation.Materials and methods. Experimental studies were carried out from June to August 2019 on the experimental field of the IAEP in the crop rotation of growing organic potatoes. The previous cultivation was autumn plowing of the field from under perennial grasses. Yellow mustard was used as a green manure — a fast-growing one-year green manure crop.Results. The results of experimental studies of the influence of sowing green manure (yellow mustard) on the change in soil hardness in a fallow field in a potato crop rotation are presented. The high efficiency of the studied biological method of soil decompaction was established, providing a decrease in hardness in the zone where the “plow sole” was previously noted from 4.8 to 2.5 MPa.

Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive compounds from yellow mustard flour and milk whey fermented with lactic acid bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria fermentation enriched ingredients in bioactive compounds. Yellow mustard flour and milk whey are potential natural preservative ingredients to be used in the baking industry, especially when fermented with lactic acid bacteria.

Influence of crops of the cover crop when forming the ridge surface of landings of potatoes to dynamics of parameters of the soil state

The main factors limiting the yield and quality of potatoes are the geometric parameters of the ridge, as well as the parameters of the soil state (moisture, hardness and temperature). In this regard, the task of maintaining the optimal values of these parameters during the potato growing season is urgent. For this, it is proposed, after planting potatoes, simultaneously with the formation of ridges, to sow a cover crop (yellow mustard) on them, followed by its destruction. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of sowing cover crops during the formation of the ridge surface of potato plantings on the dynamics of soil state parameters and potato yield. As a result of the studies, it was found that the use of a new technological method ensures a decrease in the effect of erosion processes on the ridge and the preservation of its geometric parameters, which makes it possible to exclude two inter-row cultivation of potatoes, as well as stabilize the daily soil temperature in the ridge by 2-5 ° C and retain moisture by 5 - 10%, which allows to increase the yield of potatoes by 11%.