Bioactive Compounds in Allium Crop Systems
Summary
Allium species, including onions, garlic and related crops, are rich sources of diverse bioactive molecules that contribute to both plant defence and human health. Key constituents include organosulfur compounds such as allicin and cysteine sulfoxides, phenolic compounds dominated by flavonoids like quercetin and its glycosides, as well as saponins and polysaccharides. These metabolites exhibit broad-spectrum antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. The composition and concentration of these bioactives vary with cultivar, growth conditions and post-harvest processing, underlining the importance of agronomic management and breeding programmes. Valorisation of by-products—onion skins, garlic peels and other processing wastes—has emerged as a sustainable strategy to recover high-value phytochemicals for functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and eco-friendly textiles. Advances in metabolomic profiling, integrative genomics and controlled-environment cultivation are refining our understanding of biosynthetic pathways and factors influencing yield and bioefficacy. Collectively, research in Allium crop systems not only advances agricultural productivity but also offers practical applications for human health and circular-economy approaches.
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Bioactive Compounds in Allium Crop Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive compounds in allium crop systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Organosulfur compounds: Sulphur-containing metabolites (e.g. allicin) responsible for characteristic Allium flavour and many bioactivities.
Phenolic compounds: Aromatic secondary metabolites with one or more hydroxyl groups, notable for antioxidant properties.
Flavonoids: A subclass of phenolics, including quercetin, that modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways.
DPPH/ABTS assays: In vitro tests measuring radical-scavenging capacity of extracts against stable free radicals.
Immunomodulation: The alteration of immune cell function or cytokine production by bioactive substances.
References
- Antioxidant and Immune Stimulating Effects of Allium cepa Skin in the RAW 264.7 Cells and in the C57BL/6 Mouse Immunosuppressed by Cyclophosphamide. Antioxidants (2023).
- Variations in Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid Contents, and Free Radicals’ Scavenging Potential of Onion Varieties Planted under Diverse Environmental Conditions. Plants (2022).
- Onion (Allium cepa L.) peels: A review on bioactive compounds and biomedical activities. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2021).
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