Phytochemicals and Functional Properties of Pitaya Juice Powders.

Background: Crassulacean acid metabolism plants, such as spp., are climate warming-resilient crops used as food and for by-products elaboration in arid and semi-arid agroecosystems. A few studies on secondary metabolites have been conducted in pitayo fruit (PF), but there are no reports of these compounds in juice powders (JP) with (JPS) or without seeds (JPWS).

Chemometric Evaluation of RI-Induced Phytochemicals in Seeds Indicate an Improvement on Liver Enzymes in Obese Rats.

Liver enzymes alterations (activity or quantity increase) have been recognized as biomarkers of obesity-related abnormal liver function. The intake of healthy foods can improve the activity of enzymes like aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST, ALT), γ-glutaminyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Beans have a high concentration of several phytochemicals; however, Restriction Irrigation (RI) during plant development amends their synthesis.

Common Bean Seeds Obtained by Plant Water Restriction Ameliorates Obesity-Associated Cardiovascular Risk and Insulin Resistance.

The inclusion of beans in the diet has been recommended for obesity control. However, its beneficial effect varies depending on agroclimatic factors acting during plant development. The antiobesogenic capacity of Dalia bean (DB) seeds obtained by water restriction (WR) during the vegetative or reproductive stage of plant growth (50/100 and 100/50% of soil moisture in vegetative/reproductive stage, respectively), during the whole cycle (50/50), and well-watered plants (100/100) was researched.