Jacopo Diamanti

The potential impact of strawberry on human health

The strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa, Duch.) represents a relevant source of micronutrients, such as minerals, vitamin C, folate and phenolic substances, most of which are natural antioxidants and contribute to the high nutritional quality of the fruit. All these compounds are essential for health and, in particular, strawberry phenolics are best known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, and possess directly and indirectly antimicrobial, anti-allergy and anti-hypertensive properties, as well as the capacity to inhibit the activities of some physiological enzymes and receptor properties. The main objective of this article is to review and update the current knowledge on the potential impact of the strawberry on human health, with particular attention on compounds and their possible mechanisms of action.

Increasing Strawberry Fruit Sensorial and Nutritional Quality Using Wild and Cultivated Germplasm

Background Increasing antioxidant levels in fruit through breeding is an important option to support higher antioxidant intake particularly when fruit consumption is low. Indeed, if nutritional components are also combined with a high standard of sensorial fruit quality, the perspective for consumer health can be further improved by encouraging more fruit consumption. Wild species are valued by strawberry breeders as sources of novel traits, especially for pest resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, previous investigations have shown improvements in fruit nutritional quality in breeding material that originated from Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca (FVG) inter-species crosses. Recently, commercial varieties of strawberries have also shown interesting variability in fruit nutritional quality. Results Strawberry fruit sensorial and nutritional qualities generated by Fragaria inter-species and intra-species crosses were evaluated on 78 offspring derived from 8 families: two that originated from F. × ananassa intra-species crossing; three from back-crossing of F1– FVG × F. × ananassa; and three from back-crossing of BC1– FVG × F. × ananassa. The genetic variability from the three types of cross combinations was analyzed by calculation of the correlations among the fruit sensorial and nutritional parameters. The results obtained show that two subsequent back-crossing generations from an inter-species crossing combination with F. virginiana ssp. glauca provides useful improvement of the fruit nutritional and sensorial qualities that is combined with agronomic standards that are close to those requested at the commercial level. Improvements of these traits can also be achieved by programming F. × ananassa intra-species crosses and producing progeny with productivity traits more similar to those of the commercial cultivars. Conclusions The two types of combination programs (inter-species back-crosses, and intra-species crosses) can be used to improve strawberry nutritional quality.

Doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in rats is efficiently counteracted by dietary anthocyanin differently enriched strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.).

This study investigated the effects of two different strawberry cultivars, Adria and Sveva, against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced toxicity in rats. A controlled dietary intervention was conducted over 16 weeks with four groups: (i) normal diet; (ii) normal diet + DOX injection; (iii) Adria supplementation + DOX injection; and (iv) Sveva supplementation + DOX injection. Sveva presented higher total antioxidant capacity value and phenol and and vitamin C levels than Adria, which in turn presented higher anthocyanin contents. DOX drastically increased lymphocyte DNA damage, liver biomarkers of protein and lipid oxidation, and mitochondrial ROS content and markedly decreased plasma retinol level, liver antioxidant enzymes, and mitochondrial functionality. After 2 months of strawberry supplementation, rats presented a significant reduction of DNA damage and ROS concentration and a significant improvement of oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and mitochondrial performance. These results suggest that strawberry supplementation can counteract DOX toxicity, confirming the potential health benefit of strawberry in vivo against oxidative stress.

Evaluation of F. x ananassa intra-specific and inter-specific back-crosses to generate new genetic material with increased fruit nutritional quality

During the last few years, the nutritional value of fruit has been widely studied and requested by consumers, especially for the general health benefits it can provide. Some of these benefits can be ascribed to the antioxidant capacity of fruit. Both quality and antioxidant attributes are currently considered as good tools to describe the nutritional quality of fruit. In this study, offspring from inter and intra-specific strawberry cross combinations were studied with the aim of evaluating and identifying new genotypes that can show the best compromise between quality and nutritional characteristics. Parents and offspring populations were studied by analyzing fruit nutritional quality taking in account the following parameters: Total antioxidant capacity, total phenol and anthocyanin content. Eighty strawberry offspring, originating from 8 Fragaria spp. inter and intra- specific crosses, were screened to study the role of the genetic origin of the parents in segregating new genotypes with an improved nutritional quality of the fruit. Strawberry progenies having F. virginiana glauca as a common parent showed a significant enhancement of their fruit quality and nutritional features confirming the interest that wild species are useful in improving several characteristics in cultivated strawberries.

Agronomic and nutritional quality, and fresh and processing attitude, of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) cultivars and an Italian landrace

ABSTRACT Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) plants of a typical landrace (‘Montelupone A’) from the Marche region (Italy) and three commercial cultivars (‘Apollo’, ‘Romanesco C3’, ‘Exploter’) were compared as a detailed analysis of their productive, morphological, qualitative, and nutritional parameters was carried out to characterise their particularities and suitability for the fresh market or the processing industry. Cultivar ‘Apollo’ stands out for its qualitative and agronomic aspects, with ‘Romanesco C3’ showing high flower head yield, as the most important Romanesco cultivar that is widely cultivated in central Italy. ‘Exploter’ shows high productivity and qualitative characteristics. The lower phenol content of ‘Exploter’ indicates its suitability for processing as a fresh cut preparation. The ‘Montelupone A’ landrace is characterised by beneficial nutritional values that indicate its use for fresh consumption and as a source of antioxidant compounds. The ‘Apollo’ and ‘Romanesco C3’ commercial cultivars show higher processing yield due to flower head characteristics. In particular, ‘Apollo’ has an interesting profile according to its technological qualitative and nutritional value. ‘Exploter’ differs in its high yield and suitability for the fresh market. Analysis of the ‘Montelupone A’ landrace confirms its interesting qualitative and nutritional values.

Inter-Specific Back-Crosses and Intra-Specific Crosses to Generate Strawberry Genetic Material with Increased Fruit Sensory and Nutritional Quality

During the last few years, the nutritional value of fruit has been widely studied and requested by the consumers, especially for the general health benefits it can provide. In this study, offsprings from inter- and intra-specific strawberry cross combinations were studied with the aim to evaluate and identify new genotypes that can show the best compromise between sensorial and nutritional quality. Seventy-eight strawberry offsprings selection, originating from eight Fragaria spp. inter- and intra-specific crosses, were screened to study the role of the genetic origin of the parents in segregating new genotypes with an improved sensorial and nutritional quality of the fruit.