Effects of plant hormones on main health-promoting compounds and antioxidant capacity of Chinese kale

► MeJA treatment increased the content of glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. ► SA induced increase of 4-methoxyglucobrassicin and aliphatic glucosinolates. ► MeJA and SA treatments increased total phenolic content and antioxidant capacities. ► Effect of SA treatments varied with different handling methods. ► Spraying on aboveground parts is a better SA treatment approach than root irrigation.