Spanish scientists have created a lettuce that is 30 times healthier than the usual one

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, and the Spanish National Research Council have discovered a way to increase beta-carotene levels in leaves up to 30-fold using biotechnological methods and high-intensity light treatment. Beta-carotene is a naturally occurring pigment with health benefits and is a precursor to vitamin A. The research was conducted on tobacco and lettuce plants and shows that beta-carotene can be stored in places where it is not normally detected, making it more bioavailable and potentially leading to the biofortification of vegetables without affecting their smell and taste.

This is stated in the announcement of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), whose scientists, together with colleagues from the Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) and the joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), joined the group of researchers. The work shows that using biotechnological methods and high-intensity light treatment, beta-carotene levels in leaves can be increased up to 30-fold by creating new storage sites without affecting vital processes such as photosynthesis. Beta-carotene is one of the major carotenoids, pigments naturally found in plants and other photosynthetic organisms that have health benefits, antioxidant, immune-stimulating and cognitive properties. In particular, beta-carotene is the main precursor of retinoids, chemical compounds that perform important functions of the body (vision, cell proliferation and differentiation, immune system), including vitamin A. Research was conducted on ...