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Phytochemical Composition and Antitumor Activities of New Salad Greens: Rucola (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) and Corn Salad (Valerianella locusta)

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Abstract

D. tenuifolia and V. locusta, two greens, were analyzed for active compounds and antitumor actions on colorectal cancer cells. Phenolics were determined by UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS; carotenoids and glucosinolates by HPLC-MS; and sterols and fatty acids by gas–liquid chromatography (GLC). For antitumor effects, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests were run on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, and in CCD-18 untransformed enterocyte cells. Six main carotenoids were identified in both vegetables, while total carotenoids accounted for 3520 and 2970 μg · g−1 dry weight in D. tenuifolia and V. locusta, respectively. Six phenolics were detected in D. tenuifolia (68,600 μg · g−1 dry weight) and five in V. locusta (139,000 μg · g−1 dry weight). Three glucosinolates (GSL) were found in D. tenuifolia (1960 μg · g−1 dry wt. total). Low-polarity extracts from V. locusta and D. tenuifolia showed IC50 ~ 150 and ~200 μg · mL−1 on HT-29 cells, while both plants lacked actions on CCD-18 cells. V. locusta inhibited HT-29 cancer cells viability more efficiently than D. tenuiofolia, but induced less cytotoxicity. This work highlights the importance of functional foods for colorectal cancer prevention.

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Abbreviations

4-MSB:

4-methylsulphinylbutyl (glucoraphanin)

AIF:

All-ion fragment

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

APCI:

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

BSTFA:

Tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine hydrochloride bis-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide

EFA:

Essential FA

ESI:

Heated electrospray interface

FA:

Fatty acid

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

FID:

Flame ionization detector

GSL:

Glucosinolate

LA:

Linoleic acid

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

MTBE:

Methyl tert-butyl ether

MTT:

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Technology Division, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

    R. P. Ramos-Bueno, M. J. González-Fernández & J. L. Guil-Guerrero

  2. Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    M. A. Rincón-Cervera

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  1. R. P. Ramos-Bueno
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  2. M. A. Rincón-Cervera
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  3. M. J. González-Fernández
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  4. J. L. Guil-Guerrero
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Correspondence to J. L. Guil-Guerrero.

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Ramos-Bueno, R.P., Rincón-Cervera, M.A., González-Fernández, M.J. et al. Phytochemical Composition and Antitumor Activities of New Salad Greens: Rucola (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) and Corn Salad (Valerianella locusta). Plant Foods Hum Nutr 71, 197–203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-016-0544-7

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