title: Changes in rocket salad phytochemicals within the commercial supply chain: Glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, amino acids and bacterial load increase significantly after processing.
abstract: Five cultivars of Eruca sativa and a commercial variety of Diplotaxis tenuifolia were grown in the UK (summer) and subjected to commercial growth, harvesting and processing, with subsequent shelf life storage. Glucosinolates (GSL), isothiocyanates (ITC), amino acids (AA), free sugars, and bacterial loads were analysed throughout the supply chain to determine the effects on phytochemical compositions. Bacterial load of leaves increased significantly over time and peaked during shelf life storage. Significant correlations were observed with GSL and AA concentrations, suggesting a previously unknown relationship between plants and endemic leaf bacteria. GSLs, ITCs and AAs increased significantly after processing and during shelf life. The supply chain did not significantly affect glucoraphanin concentrations, and its ITC sulforaphane significantly increased during shelf life in E. sativa cultivars. We hypothesise that commercial processing may increase the nutritional value of the crop, and have added health benefits for the consumer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK. Electronic address: luke.bell@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK.
authors.forename: Hanis Nadia
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK.
authors.forename: Omobolanle Oluwadamilola
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oloyede
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Methven
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK; Centre for Food Security, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000379:methods*; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005961:Glucosinolates; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: Brassicaceae; Capillary electrophoresis; Diplotaxis tenuifolia; Eruca sativa; Gas chromatography mass spectrometry; Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry; Processing; Sugars