8.4 Anti-nutritional Factors
Anti-nutritional factors are constituents, which are naturally generated in food
elements during the metabolism of particular species. These anti-nutritional factors
are generated in food by various mechanisms such as inactivation of some nutrients,
diminution of the digestive process or metabolic utilization of feed and, thus, reduce
the availability of nutrients of particular food types causing growth inhibition
(Andersen et al. 2005; Thangaraj 2016). B. nigra seeds consist of anti-nutritional
factors primarily in the form of enzymes inhibitors. Protease inhibitors, phytic acid,
cyanogen, lectins, phenolic compounds, phytates, oxalic acid, tannin and
R-galactosides are also considered as anti-nutritional factors, and most of them are
found in B. nigra seeds (Andersen et al. 2005; Thangaraj 2016; Saha et al. 2015).
The anti-nutritional effects caused by these components result in goitres, growth
retardation and liver damage in humans, and one of the reasons for poor egg
production in animals as well (Avato and Argentieri 2015).
8.5 Phytonutrients/Glucosinolates
Several studies have been conducted for investigating the Brassicaceae family for
phytonutrients and have revealed the presence of glucosinolates, tocopherols and
vitamin E forms (mostly α-tocopherol) in B. nigra seeds (Avato and Argentieri
2015). Glucosinolates contain a cyano and a sulphate group, which are derived from
amino acid biosynthesis and are water-soluble. In addition, glucosinolates are
considered as secondary metabolites of the Brassicaceae family and defend plants
against pests, pathogenic invaders and diseases (Augustine and Bisht 2015; Jahangir
et al. 2009; Avato and Argentieri 2015; Björkman et al. 2011; Mazumder et al.
2016). Glucoraphanin – which is a widely investigated glucosinolate due to several
health benefits – is present in B. nigra seeds albeit in minute amounts as compared
with other Brassica species (Augustine and Bisht 2015).
Phenolic/polyphenolic compounds (sinapine), flavonoids (anthocyanins
(cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside), myricetin, fisetin, morin, quercetin,
kaempferol, isorhamnetin), melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and lignans
are known for their potential benefits on human health such as antiviral, antiallergic,
antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities (Iriti and Faoro
2006; Kapusta-Duch et al. 2012; Lako et al. 2007). These compounds are able to
prevent oxidative stress, induce detoxification enzymes, stimulate the immune
system, decrease the risk of cancers, inhibit malignant transformation and carcinogenic mutations and reduce proliferation of cancer cells (Kapusta-Duch et al. 2012).
The presence of these phytochemicals is especially common for seeds present in the
plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family, including B. nigra (Alam et al. 2011;
Avato and Argentieri 2015). In addition, B. nigra was also shown to contain
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Anti-nutritional factors are constituents, which are naturally generated in food
elements during the metabolism of particular species. These anti-nutritional factors
are generated in food by various mechanisms such as inactivation of some nutrients,
diminution of the digestive process or metabolic utilization of feed and, thus, reduce
the availability of nutrients of particular food types causing growth inhibition
(Andersen et al. 2005; Thangaraj 2016). B. nigra seeds consist of anti-nutritional
factors primarily in the form of enzymes inhibitors. Protease inhibitors, phytic acid,
cyanogen, lectins, phenolic compounds, phytates, oxalic acid, tannin and
R-galactosides are also considered as anti-nutritional factors, and most of them are
found in B. nigra seeds (Andersen et al. 2005; Thangaraj 2016; Saha et al. 2015).
The anti-nutritional effects caused by these components result in goitres, growth
retardation and liver damage in humans, and one of the reasons for poor egg
production in animals as well (Avato and Argentieri 2015).
8.5 Phytonutrients/Glucosinolates
Several studies have been conducted for investigating the Brassicaceae family for
phytonutrients and have revealed the presence of glucosinolates, tocopherols and
vitamin E forms (mostly α-tocopherol) in B. nigra seeds (Avato and Argentieri
2015). Glucosinolates contain a cyano and a sulphate group, which are derived from
amino acid biosynthesis and are water-soluble. In addition, glucosinolates are
considered as secondary metabolites of the Brassicaceae family and defend plants
against pests, pathogenic invaders and diseases (Augustine and Bisht 2015; Jahangir
et al. 2009; Avato and Argentieri 2015; Björkman et al. 2011; Mazumder et al.
2016). Glucoraphanin – which is a widely investigated glucosinolate due to several
health benefits – is present in B. nigra seeds albeit in minute amounts as compared
with other Brassica species (Augustine and Bisht 2015).
Phenolic/polyphenolic compounds (sinapine), flavonoids (anthocyanins
(cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside), myricetin, fisetin, morin, quercetin,
kaempferol, isorhamnetin), melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and lignans
are known for their potential benefits on human health such as antiviral, antiallergic,
antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities (Iriti and Faoro
2006; Kapusta-Duch et al. 2012; Lako et al. 2007). These compounds are able to
prevent oxidative stress, induce detoxification enzymes, stimulate the immune
system, decrease the risk of cancers, inhibit malignant transformation and carcinogenic mutations and reduce proliferation of cancer cells (Kapusta-Duch et al. 2012).
The presence of these phytochemicals is especially common for seeds present in the
plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family, including B. nigra (Alam et al. 2011;
Avato and Argentieri 2015). In addition, B. nigra was also shown to contain
8 Mustard (Brassica nigra) Seed
195