Asparagus, a vital economic contributor, is a well‐liked vegetable grown around the globe, and some secondary metabolites in its spear are beneficial to human health. Asparagus spears possess a significant quantity of nutrients and phytochemicals; however, the difference in these chemical compositions among various varieties has not been sufficiently studied. This work aimed to detect the chemical compositions of 30 varieties of asparagus and to assess them by principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the contents of these chemical compositions varied in varieties. Selenium (Se, 1.12–2.9 μg/100 g dry‐weight [DW]) was abundant in asparagus, with an average dry matter content of 8.25%. Free amino acids (5.60–9.98 g/100 g DW) and polyphenols (6.34–8.67 mg/g DW) were both present in high amounts, along with flavonoids (4.218–8.22 mg/g DW) and protodioscin (0.44–1.96 mg/g DW). Correlation analysis, PCA, and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of asparagus. Atlas, Appolo, Jinggang 111, Jingke 2, and WS‐1 were the top five varieties with comprehensive scores. This study provided valuable data for the breeding, quality improvement, processing, and utilization of asparagus varieties in the future.

Podophyllotoxin (PTOX) is naturally produced by the plant Podophyllum species. Some of its derivatives are anticancer drugs, which are produced mainly by using chemical semi-synthesis methods. Recombinant bacteria have great potential in large-scale production of the derivatives of PTOX. In addition to introducing the correct enzymes, the transportation of PTOX into the cells is an important factor, which limits its modification in the bacteria. Here, we improved the cellular uptake of PTOX into Escherichia coli with the help of the zero-valent sulfur transporter YedE1E2 in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). CTAB promoted the uptake of PTOX, but induced the production of reactive oxygen species. A protein complex (YedE1E2) of YedE1 and YedE2 enabled E. coli cells to resist CTAB by reducing reactive oxygen species, and YedE1E2 was a hypothetical transporter. Further investigation showed that YedE1E2 facilitated the uptake of extracellular zero-valent sulfur across the cytoplasmic membrane and the formation of glutathione persulfide (GSSH) inside the cells. The increased GSSH minimized oxidative stress. Our results indicate that YedE1E2 is a zero-valent sulfur transporter and it also facilitates CTAB-assisted uptake of PTOX by recombinant bacteria.

Sulforaphene (4-methylsufinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, SFE), produced by myrosinase hydrolysis of glucoraphenin (4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl glucosinolate) found in radish seeds, is strongly associated with cancer prevention. In this study, we investigated the stability of SFE (purity above 98%) under various thiol-containing compounds at 25 °C, such as sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), glutathione (GSH), and cysteine (Cys). We observed that the degradation of SFE was closely related to the presence and dissociation capacity of thiol-containing compounds in the solution, particularly the thiol group. We found that the degradation rate of SFE was influenced by incubation with NaHS, GSH, and Cys, with distinct degradation products detected for each of these thiol-containing compounds. Compared to GSH, sulfide and Cys played important roles in promoting the degradation of SFE. Furthermore, we found substantial quantities of hydrogen sulfide in conjunction with SFE during the hydrolysis process of seeds, and a heat treatment of the seeds resulted in increased production of SFE. However, the introduction of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria to the hydrolytic system did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the degradation of SFE. These results provided a guideline for industries to improve the stability of SFE during preparation.

Raphanus sativus seed (RS) are recognized for their ability to eliminate phlegm and improve digestion in Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments. Modern medical research has revealed that RS is rich in bioactive components. However, the levels of these compounds in different RS samples remain unclear. Thus, this study, using high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, conducted a quantitative analysis of four functional constituents in 105 varieties of RS. The data were then analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis. Results indicated that the levels of glucosinolates (3.59 ± 0.43 to 206.89 ± 25.11 μmol/g DW) and isothiocyanates (5.6 ± 0.05 to 193.25 ± 12.86 μmol/g DW) varied significantly among the different RS samples, with white RS showing higher levels of glucoraphanin, sulforaphane, and sulforaphene than the other three types. Furthermore, “ Xuebawang ” was identified as a potential variant according to principal component analysis, with high levels of functional components and a relatively heavy weight (1.53 g). This study could provide preliminary data for the selection of raw materials for radish products.

Qamgur is a widely consumed vegetable and is also used in traditional medicine because of its extensive health benefits. White and yellow are the two main varieties. However, the mechanisms underlying quality development in these varieties, particularly in yellow Qamgur, remain unclear. This study compared nutritional and functional components throughout development. Total phenols and total isothiocyanates showed similar trends and levels in both varieties, whereas total free amino acids showed related but distinct patterns. Yellow Qamgur accumulated significantly higher levels of carotenoids. The integrated use of widely targeted and targeted metabolomics revealed stage-specific metabolites. White Qamgur showed stronger enrichment in secondary metabolite pathways, such as anthocyanin, flavonoid, steroid, terpenoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. In contrast, yellow Qamgur showed stronger enrichment in primary metabolic pathways, including amino acid biosynthesis. In addition, carotenoid biosynthesis may be the primary pathway responsible for the yellow coloration. Carotenoid profiling revealed that lycopene (28.94 mg/kg) was the predominant carotenoid in yellow Qamgur, followed by violaxanthin, γ-carotene, phytoene, β-cryptoxanthin laurate, and β-carotene.

Thiosulfate serves as a critical intermediate in the sulfur biogeochemical cycle and is frequently oxidized by the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system to sulfate