Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of <i>Brassica oleracea</i> L. var. <i>Italica</i> Sprouts and Microgreens: An Updated Overview from a Nutraceutical Perspective

Sprouts and microgreens, the edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs, have received increasing attention in recent years and are considered as functional foods or superfoods owing to their valuable health-promoting properties. In particular, the seedlings of broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea<...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thanh Ninh Le, Chiu-Hsia Chiu, Pao-Chuan Hsieh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/946
Description
Summary:Sprouts and microgreens, the edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs, have received increasing attention in recent years and are considered as functional foods or superfoods owing to their valuable health-promoting properties. In particular, the seedlings of broccoli (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> L. var. <i>Italica</i>) have been highly prized for their substantial amount of bioactive constituents, including glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and essential minerals. These secondary metabolites are positively associated with potential health benefits. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that broccoli seedlings possess various biological properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and antidiabetic activities. The present review summarizes the updated knowledge about bioactive compounds and bioactivities of these broccoli products and discusses the relevant mechanisms of action. This review will serve as a potential reference for food selections of consumers and applications in functional food and nutraceutical industries.
ISSN:2223-7747