Some bioactive metabolites' response to long-term water stress in red cabbage

Abstract

Some biochemical compounds such as anthocyanins, phenolic compounds and antioxidants in plants are very beneficial for human health because they are known to strengthen the immune system. Many academic studies have focused on the effects of drought on the yield and morphological parameters of plants, however, studies that investigate how these biochemical compounds are affected are rare. There are no known studies, in particular, that quantify them in red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) in response to long-term water stress. In this study three repetitions of four different irrigations were applied to red cabbage in order to understand the impacts of drought stress on some of the bioactive metabolites of the plant. The biochemical components of the harvested extracts from each repetition were analyzed in four parallel runs. Results showed that in line with increased water stress, the amount of anthocyanin, phenolic content and antioxidant ranged from 30.72 to 51.27 mg Cyn 3-glu/100 g, 175 to 315.7 mg GA/100 g FW and 256.02 to 327.00 mg trolox/100 g FW, respectively. Under the light of the findings, this study concludes that some biochemical components in red cabbage increase with severe water stress. This result showed that red-colored vegetables with high anthocyanin content such as the red cabbage can be a preferred crop in regions with dry climates or those regions that tend to get warmer due to climate change. In addition to its health benefits, red cabbage can be used for its strong coloring properties in cases of increased drought conditions.