Environmental Regulation of Human Health Nutrients (Ascorbic Acid, β-Carotene, and Folic Acid) in Fruits and Vegetables
نویسنده
چکیده
HORTSCIENCE VOL. 41(1) FEBRUARY 2006 annuum L.), pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill], potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), spinach, strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.), and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.). Ascorbic acid is critical in maintaining a healthy immune system, reducing the severity of colds by preventing secondary viral or bacterial infections, protecting against damage by reducing free radicals (Larsen, 1997), and in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (Eichholzer et al., 2001). Folic acid (vitamin B9). Folic acid was fi rst isolated in 1941 from spinach and characterized as B9, a water-soluble vitamin and a member of the vitamin B complex (Cossins, 2000). The richest plant sources for folic acid can be found in asparagus (Asparagus offi cinalis L.), broccoli, butterhead lettuce (Latuca sativa L. var. capitata), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.), and spinach. Other members of the B complex are B1 (thiamine), B2 (ribofl avin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine ), B12 (cyanocobalamin), and biotin (vitamin H). Folic acid helps in the transport of amino acids to the appropriate location in protein chain creation (Kelly, 1998), is involved in methylation of amino acids, DNA, and RNA (Lucock at al., 1996; Ma et al., 1997); regenerates methionine from homocystine, a compound contributing to cardiovascular disease (Laclerc et al., 1998); is involved in cell division, differentiation, and regulation Environmental Regulation of Human Health Nutrients (Ascorbic Acid, β-Carotene, and Folic Acid) in Fruits and Vegetables
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