Phytochemical Composition, Antiglycation, Antioxidant Activity and Methylglyoxal-Trapping Action of Brassica Vegetables

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021 Sep;76(3):340-346. doi: 10.1007/s11130-021-00903-w. Epub 2021 Aug 3.

Abstract

Brassica vegetables are common in cuisines worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiglycation, methylglyoxal (MG)-trapping action and antioxidant activity of Brassica vegetable extract (BVE) from cabbage, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage. The results showed that cauliflower had the highest phenolic content with the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Seven phenolic acids and three flavonoids were identified by ESI-Q-TOF-MS analysis. The common phenolic compounds in all BVE were sinapic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The BVE (0.5 mg/mL) showed significant inhibitory activity against glucose-induced fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation (34 - 67%) and preserved the amount of protein thiol group (30 - 35%). In addition, all extracts (0.125 - 4 mg/mL) also had the ability to trap MG, a reactive glycating agent. Total phenolic content of BVE exhibited a positive correlation with DPPH radical scavenging activity (r = 0.524) and % inhibition of AGE formation (r = 0.570) and % MG-trapping capacity (r = 0.786). These findings suggest that the BVE possesses antioxidant and antiglycating activity that may help to protect against protein glycation and oxidation mediated by glycation reaction.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Brassica vegetables; Glycation; Methylglyoxal.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants* / pharmacology
  • Brassica*
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Pyruvaldehyde
  • Vegetables

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Extracts
  • Pyruvaldehyde