The present study was designed to explore the anthocyanin profile and antioxidant activities in Indian rose varieties (Rosa × hybrida). Among fifty varieties, Ashwini recorded the highest total phenolic content (427.59 ± 3.47 mg GAE/100 g) along with the highest FRAP (397.15 ± 0.82 µmol trolox/g) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity (93.47 ± 0.19%) on a fresh weight basis. A significant positive correlation was observed between total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activities. Four distinct clusters were formed according to total anthocyanins, total phenols, and antioxidant activities; white- and yellow-colored varieties were most distant from red ones. Principal component analysis revealed that variable total anthocyanin content contributed to the maximum variation among the fifty rose varieties studied. Highly anthocyanin-rich rose varieties were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD), which identified two major components of anthocyanins, i.e., cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside and pelargonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside. Cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside was the predominant anthocyanin in red- and pink-colored varieties, whereas pelargonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside was the major one in the orange variety. The maximum cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside content was recorded in variety Ashwini (497.79 mg/100 g), whereas the maximum pelargonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside content was recorded in Suryakiran (185.43 mg/100 g). It is suggested that the rose varieties with high anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity can be exploited as a potential source of nutraceuticals in the food industry.

Four edible flowers commonly consumed in the Western Himalayan region, namely, Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar), Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium), Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile), and Tagetes erecta (Marigold), were characterized for their nutritional and phytochemical composition. Through the UHPLC-QTOF-IMS-based metabolomics approach, 131 compounds were tentatively identified consisting of phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, terpenoids, amino acids, and fatty acid derivatives. Kaempferol and quercetin glycosides for Kachnar, apigenin glycosides and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives for Chamomile, patulin and quercetin derivatives for Marigold, cyanidin and delphinidin glycosides for Nasturtium were the predicted marker metabolites identified through non-targeted metabolomics. Kachnar and Chamomile scored best in terms of macronutrients and essential micronutrients, respectively. Nasturtium contained high concentrations of α-linolenic acid, anthocyanins, and lutein. Kachnar contained the highest total phenolic acids (63.36 ± 0.38 mg GAE g^-1), while Marigold contained the highest total flavonoids (118.90 ± 1.30 mg QUE g^-1). Marigolds possessed excellent free radical scavenging and metal chelation activities. Chamomile exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibition activity, followed by Nasturtium. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestibility of flower extracts indicated that the bioaccessibility of phenolic acids was higher than that of flavonoids. Polyphenols from Nasturtium and Chamomile showed the highest bioaccessibility. The study is an attempt to characterize traditionally consumed edible flowers and promote their wider utilization in gastronomy and nutraceuticals.

With the recognition of the beneficial effects of silicon (Si) on plant growth and development, research interests have focused toward utilizing this abundantly present element in the agricultural sector. Silicon plays a role in the alleviation of plant stress caused by abiotic factors, imparts disease and pest resistance, and improves plant vigor. As this element has become an agriculturally important addition in fertility regimes, floriculturists are also looking at ways to use this beneficial element for improvement of flower crops. Research findings have shown that silicon supplementation in flower crops can impact the growth, visual quality, and longevity of the cut flowers. Through this review, highlighting the potential applications of Si in different aspects of flower crop production including abiotic stress response, disease and pest resistance, toxicity alleviation, role in plant tissue culture, etc. This beneficial nutrient holds great promise to aid the floriculture industry in sustaining production and quality.

Rose is a commercially significant floricultural crop that has been used for various industrial as well as decoration purposes. Along with the beautification of rose flowers, their leaves are enriched with different biologically active compounds having various therapeutic uses. The current study was performed on the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of rose leaves. In our study, we found there are consequential variations observed in all the parameters, viz., total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total anthocyanin, total phenol, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity, among all the varieties. Among the ten varieties, Thelma Barlow revealed the maximum phenolic content (35.19 mg/g FW), flavonoids content (15.97 mg/g FW), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity of IC₅₀ value (206.86 ± 0.49 µg/mL), and 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) (301.62 ± 2.31 µg/mL). The variety Grand Amore presented the highest values for total chlorophyll (1.41 mg/g FW) and carotenoids (36.29 mg/g FW) content compared to other varieties. Also, a comparative correlation was studied amongst the phytochemicals such as anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities. Amongst the different rose varieties, Grand Amore and Thelma Barlow contain higher antioxidant potential, owing to their greater phytochemical activity. From our findings, we collectively concluded that fresh rose leaves contain potentially higher phenolic and flavonoid content, i.e., are responsible for higher antioxidant activity, which can be utilized for various pharmacological as well as food industries.