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Effects of Caffeine, Zinc, and Their Combined Treatments on the Growth, Yield, Mineral Elements, and Polyphenols of Solanum lycopersicum L.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
September 11, 2024
Elena Vichi et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effects of caffeine on fruit quality, antioxidant content, and safety in tomato plants.

Results Summary

Caffeine was absorbed by roots and translocated to leaves, increasing fruit yield. It also enhanced antioxidant compounds like coumaric acid and caffeic acid in tomatoes without significant health risks.

Population

Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' (tomato plants).

Effective Dosage

1 mg L-1 caffeine trimethyl-13C, applied weekly.

Duration

56 days.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
caffeine
increase
number of fruits per plant
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
positively influenced
#1
Zn
increase
tomato dry weight
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
induced a positive increase
#2
Zn
decrease
shoot length
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-16.7%
reducing
#3
Zn + caffeine
increase
phenylpropanoid pathway of fruits
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
had a positive effect
#4
Zn + caffeine
increase
4-coumaric acid
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
significantly increased
#5
Zn + caffeine
increase
caffeic acid
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
significantly increased
#6
Zn + caffeine
increase
t-ferulic acid
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
significantly increased
#7
Zn + caffeine
increase
total antioxidant capacity of the tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
significantly increased
#8
treatments
decrease
apigenin contents
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
reduced
#9
treatments
decrease
luteolin contents
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
reduced
#10
treatments
no change
concentrations of the mineral elements Cu, Mn, Fe, Na, Ca, Mg, and K
Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' plants
-
showed similar concentrations
#11
Zn and caffeine
no change
health risks via the consumption of these tomatoes
human consumers
<1
target hazard quotients were <1
#12
Abstract

(1) Background: The effects of Zn and caffeine as promoters of fruit quality in the Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar 'Panarea' were tested. (2) Methods: During the 56 days of the experiment, plants were treated weekly with 100 mL of 1 mM Zn (Zn), 1 mg L-1 caffeine trimethyl-13C (caffeine), and 1 mM Zn + 1 mg L-1 caffeine trimethyl-13C (Zn + caffeine) and compared to plants that were given tap water (control). (3) Results: Caffeine was taken up by the roots and translocated to the leaves, which positively influenced the number of fruits per plant. After 56 days of treatment, Zn induced a positive increase in tomato dry weight, reducing shoot length (-16.7%) compared to the other treatments. Zn + caffeine had a positive effect on the phenylpropanoid pathway of fruits, and 4-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and t-ferulic acid were significantly increased, as well as the total antioxidant capacity of the tomatoes. In the flavonoid pathway, only apigenin and luteolin contents were reduced by treatments. The tomatoes showed similar concentrations of the mineral elements Cu, Mn, Fe, Na, Ca, Mg, and K. The Zn and caffeine target hazard quotients were <1, indicating that health risks via the consumption of these tomatoes did not occur. (4) Conclusions: Tomato plants could be irrigated with water containing lower values of Zn, caffeine, and a combination of the two. The treated fruits are rich in antioxidant compounds, such as coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and t-ferulic acid, which are beneficial for human health. No considerable health risks associated with human consumption have been detected.

Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety90
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations1
Citations/Year1.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.25
Normalized Score0.85
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