Antioxidant and anticancer activities of Chenopodium quinoa leaves extracts – In vitro study

Analysis of widely targeted metabolites of quinoa sprouts (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under saline-alkali stress provides new insights into nutritional value

Quinoa sprouts are a green vegetable rich in bioactive chemicals, which have multiple health benefits. However, there is limited information on the overall metabolic profiles of quinoa sprouts and the metabolite changes caused by saline-alkali stress. Here, a UHPLC-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics technique was performed to comprehensively evaluate the metabolic profiles of quinoa sprouts and characterize its metabolic response to saline-alkali stress. A total of 930 metabolites were identified of which 232 showed significant response to saline-alkali stress. The contents of lipids and amino acids were significantly increased, while the contents of flavonoids and phenolic acids were significantly reduced under saline-alkali stress. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of quinoa sprouts were significantly affected by saline-alkali stress. The enrichment analysis of the differentially accumulated metabolites revealed that flavonoid, amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis/metabolism pathways responded to saline-alkali stress. This study provided an important theoretical basis for evaluating the nutritional value of quinoa sprouts and the changes in metabolites in response to saline-alkali stress.

Quinoa greens as a novel plant food: a review of its nutritional composition, functional activities, and food applications

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is widely regarded as a versatile pseudo-cereal native to the Andes Mountains in South America. It has gained global recognition as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile. While quinoa grains are well-known, there is an undiscovered potential in quinoa greens, such as sprouts, leaves, and microgreens. These verdant parts of quinoa are rich in a diverse array of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, including proteins, amino acids, bioactive proteins, peptides, polyphenols, and flavonoids. They have powerful antioxidant properties, combat cancer, and help prevent diabetes. Quinoa greens offer comparable or even superior benefits when compared to other sprouts and leafy greens, yet they have not gained widespread recognition. Limited research exists on the nutritional composition and biological activities of quinoa greens, underscoring the necessity for thorough systematic reviews in this field. This review paper aims to highlight the nutritional value, bioactivity, and health potential of quinoa greens, as well as explore their possibilities within the food sector. The goal is to generate interest within the research community and promote further exploration and wider utilization of quinoa greens in diets. This focus may lead to new opportunities for enhancing health and well-being through innovative dietary approaches.

Harnessing the Potential of Quinoa: Nutritional Profiling, Bioactive Components, and Implications for Health Promotion

Quinoa, a globally cultivated "golden grain" belonging to Chenopodium in the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for being gluten-free, with a balanced amino acid profile and multiple bioactive components, including peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and saponins. The bioactive compounds extracted from quinoa offer multifaceted health benefits, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardiovascular disease (CVD) improvement, gut microbiota regulation, and anti-cancer effects. This review aims to intricately outline quinoa's nutritional value, functional components, and physiological benefits. Importantly, we comprehensively provide conclusions on the effects and mechanisms of these quinoa-derived bioactive components on multiple cancer types, revealing the potential of quinoa seeds as promising and effective anti-cancer agents. Furthermore, the health-promoting role of quinoa in modulating gut microbiota, maintaining gut homeostasis, and protecting intestinal integrity was specifically emphasized. Finally, we provided a forward-looking description of the opportunities and challenges for the future exploration of quinoa. However, in-depth studies of molecular targets and clinical trials are warranted to fully understand the bioavailability and therapeutic application of quinoa-derived compounds, especially in cancer treatment and gut microbiota regulation. This review sheds light on the prospect of developing dietary quinoa into functional foods or drugs to prevent and manage human diseases.

Formulation and evaluation of azithromycin-loaded silver nanoparticles for the treatment of infected wounds

Infected wounds pose a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring innovative therapeutic strategies. Therefore, there is a critical need for innovative pharmaceutical materials to improve wound healing and combat bacterial growth. This study examined the efficacy of azithromycin-loaded silver nanoparticles (AZM-AgNPs) in treating infected wounds. AgNPs synthesized using a green method with Quinoa seed extract were loaded with AZM. Characterization techniques, including X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Uv-Vis analysis were utilized. The agar diffusion assay and determination of the MIC were used to assess the initial antibacterial impact of the formulations on both MRSA and E. coli. In addition, the antimicrobial, wound-healing effects and histological changes following treatment with the AZM-AgNPs were assessed using an infected rat model. The nanoparticles had size of 24.9 ± 15.2 nm for AgNPs and 34.7 ± 9.7 nm for AZM-AgNPs. The Langmuir model accurately characterized the adsorption of AZM onto the AgNP surface, indicating a maximum loading capacity of 162.73 mg/g. AZM-AgNPs exhibited superior antibacterial properties in vivo and in vitro compared to controls. Using the agar diffusion technique, AZM-AgNPs showed enhanced zones of inhibition against E. coli and MRSA, which was coupled with decreased MIC levels. In addition, in vivo studies showed that AZM-AgNP treated rats had the best outcome characterized by improved healing process, lower bacterial counts and superior epithelialization, compared to the control group. In conclusion, AZM-AgNPs can be synthesized using a green method with Quinoa seed with successful loading of azithromycin onto silver nanoparticles. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest the promising use of AZM-AgNPs as an effective therapeutic agent for infected wounds.

Ecdysterone and Turkesterone-Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition

The naturally occurring compounds ecdysterone and turkesterone, which are present in plants, including Rhaponticum carthamoides Willd. (Iljin), Spinacia oleracea L., Chenopodium quinoa Willd., and Ajuga turkestanica (Regel) Briq, are widely recognized due to their possible advantages for both general health and athletic performance. The current review investigates the beneficial biological effects of ecdysterone and turkesterone in nutrition, highlighting their roles not only in enhancing athletic performance but also in the management of various health problems. Plant-based diets, associated with various health benefits and environmental sustainability, often include sources rich in phytoecdysteroids. However, the therapeutic potential of phytoecdysteroid-rich extracts extends beyond sports nutrition, with promising applications in treating chronic fatigue, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Cytotoxic Activity of Saponins and Sapogenins Isolated from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. in Cancer Cell Lines

The cytotoxic properties of two extracts from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and three synthetic sapogenins were evaluated in different cancer cell lines (A549, SH-SY5Y, HepG2, and HeLa) to investigate their cytotoxic effects and determine if these cell lines activate the caspase pathway for apoptosis in response to saponin and sapogenin treatment. The saponin extracts were isolated from the agro-industrial waste of Chenopodium quinoa Willd., while the sapogenins were identified and quantitatively determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Among these compounds, ursolic acid was the most active compound, with high IC50 values measured in all cell lines. In addition, hederagenin demonstrated higher caspase-3 activity than staurosporine in HeLa cells, suggesting an anti-cytotoxic activity via a caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway. HPLC analysis showed that the concentration of hederagenin was higher than that of oleanolic acid in ethanolic extracts of white and red quinoa. The ethanolic extracts of white and red quinoa did not show cytotoxic activity. On the other hand, the synthetic sapogenins such as ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and hederagenin significantly decreased the viability of the four cell lines studied. Finally, by Caspase-3 assay, it was found that HeLa undergoes apoptosis during cell death because hederagenin produces a significant increase in PARP-1 hydrolysis in HeLa cells.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and Amaranthus hybridus L.: Ancestral Andean Food Security and Modern Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity

The species Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and Amaranthus hybridus L. are Andean staples, part of the traditional diet and gastronomy of the people of the highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina and Chile, with several ethnopharmacological uses, among them anticancer applications. This review aims to present updated information on the nutritional composition, phytochemistry, and antimicrobial and anticancer activity of Quinoa and Amaranth. Both species contribute to food security due to their essential amino acid contents, which are higher than those of most staples. It is highlighted that the biological activity, especially the antimicrobial activity in C. quinoa, and the anticancer activity in both species is related to the presence of phytochemicals present mostly in leaves and seeds. The biological activity of both species is consistent with their phytochemical composition, with phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and peptides being the main compound families of interest. Extracts of different plant organs of both species and peptide fractions have shown in vitro and, to a lesser degree, in vivo activity against a variety of bacteria and cancer cell lines. These findings confirm the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of both species, C. quinoa having more reported activity than A. hybridus through different compounds and mechanisms.

The potential of young vegetative quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as a new sustainable protein-rich winter leafy crop under Mediterranean climate

The demand for protein products has significantly risen in the last few years. In western countries, animals are the primary source of protein; however, plants could take a share of this market due to lower production costs, among other advantages such as a lower environmental footprint. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a well-known but under-utilized protein-rich crop, commonly cultivated for grain production. These plants were recently evaluated for their use as a non-traditional, green leafy crop. Here we assessed the potential of young vegetative quinoa as a new sustainable winter leafy crop in Israel-serving as a model for Mediterranean semi-arid regions, by evaluating yield, protein content and quality. Five quinoa accessions were sown on three winter sowing dates over two consecutive years. Plants were harvested when they reached 10% dry matter (DM). DM yield ranged between 574 and 1,982 kg ha-1 and was generally higher in the second year. Protein content ranged from 14.4-34% and was generally higher in the first year. Protein yield ranged from 111-471 kg ha-1 and was greatest on the December sowing date. DM and protein yields were positively correlated with plant density. Protein content was negatively correlated with plant density and DM yield. Our findings show that 200 g DM of young vegetative quinoa can meet the protein and most essential amino acid requirements for a 70 kg human adult. Prospects for cultivating young vegetative quinoa in Mediterranean countries as a new sustainable, protein-rich winter leafy crop are therefore high, as supported by its high protein yields and quality, and its requirement for only scant irrigation. Further studies should examine economic and other agrotechnical parameters toward the geographical distribution and expansion of young vegetative quinoa cultivation.

Bioaccessibility and bioactive potential of different phytochemical classes from nutraceuticals and functional foods

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are composed of especially complex matrices, with polyphenols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins, among others, being the main classes of phytochemicals involved in their bioactivities. Despite their wide use, further investigations are needed to certify the proper release of these phytochemicals into the gastrointestinal medium, where the bioaccessibility assay is one of the most frequently used method. The aim of this review was to gather and describe different methods that can be used to assess the bioaccessibility of nutraceuticals and functional foods, along with the most important factors that can impact this process. The link between simulated digestion testing of phytochemicals and their in vitro bioactivity is also discussed, with a special focus on the potential of developing nutraceuticals and functional foods from simple plant materials. The bioactive potential of certain classes of phytochemicals from nutraceuticals and functional foods is susceptible to different variations during the bioaccessibility assessment, with different factors contributing to this variability, namely the chemical composition and the nature of the matrix. Regardless of the high number of studies, the current methodology fails to assume correlations between bioaccessibility and bioactivity, and the findings of this review indicate a necessity for updated and standardized protocols.

Biosynthesis approach of copper nanoparticles, physicochemical characterization, cefixime wastewater treatment, and antibacterial activities

The aim of this paper is the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) via Quinoa seed extract. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the production of the pure crystalline face center cubic system of the Cu NPs with an average crystallite size of 8.41 nm. Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the capping and stabilization of the Cu NPs bioreduction process. UV visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). surface plasmon resonance revealed the absorption peak at 324 nm with an energy bandgap of 3.47 eV. Electrical conductivity was conducted assuring the semiconductor nature of the biosynthesized Cu NPs. Morphological analysis was investigated confirming the nano-characteristic properties of the Cu NPs as polycrystalline cubic agglomerated shapes in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis also was used to assess the cubic shapes at a particle size of 15.1 ± 8.3 nm and a crystallinity index about equal to 2.0. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) was conducted to investigate the elemental composition of the Cu NPs. As a potential utility of the biosynthesized Cu NPs as nano adsorbents to the removal of the Cefixime (Xim) from the pharmaceutical wastewater; adsorption studies and process parameters were being investigated. The following strategic methodology for maximum Xim removal was conducted to be solution pH 4, Cu NPs dosage 30 mg, Xim concentration 100 mg/L, and absolute temperature 313 K. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 122.9 mg/g according to the Langmuir isothermal model, and the kinetic mechanism was pseudo-second-order. Thermodynamic parameters also were derived as spontaneous chemisorption endothermic processes. Antibacterial activity of the Xim and Xim@Cu NPs was investigated confirming they are highly potent against each Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterium.

Nutrient composition, functional activity and industrial applications of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa is one of the gluten-free crops that has attracted considerable interest. Quinoa contains functional ingredients such as bioactive peptides, polysaccharides, saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids and other compounds. It is very important to determine efficient methods to identify such functional ingredients, and to explain their possible health benefits in humans. In this review, the chemical structure and biological activity mechanisms of quinoa nutrient composition have been elaborated. In addition, the development of quinoa-based functional foods and feed is emerging, providing a reference for the development of functional products with quinoa as an ingredient that are beneficial to health. The active ingredients in quinoa have different health effects including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities. Further exploration is also needed to improve the application of quinoa within the functional food industry, and in the areas of feed, medicine and cosmetics.

Biological functions of active ingredients in quinoa bran: Advance and prospective

Quinoa is known to be a rich source of nutrients and bioactive components. Quinoa bran, used mainly as animal feed in processing by-products, is also a potential source of bioactive ingredients being conducive to human health. The importance of nutrition and function of quinoa seed has been discussed in many studies, but the bioactive properties of quinoa bran often are overlooked. This review systemically summarized the progress in bioactive components, extraction, and functional investigations of quinoa bran. It suggests that chemically assisted electronic fractionation could be used to extract albumin from quinoa bran. Ultrasound-assisted extraction method is a very useful method for extracting phenolic acids, triterpene saponins, and flavonoids from quinoa bran. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies for biological activities, quinoa bran extract exhibits a wide range of beneficial properties, including anti-oxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer functions. However, human experiments and action mechanisms need to investigate. Further exploring quinoa bran will promote its applications in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and poultry feed in the future.

Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics to analyze quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) responses to drought stress and rewatering

The crop production of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), the only plant meeting basic human nutritional requirements, is affected by drought stress. To better understand the drought tolerance mechanism of quinoa, we screened the drought-tolerant quinoa genotype "Dianli 129" and studied the seedling leaves of the drought-tolerant quinoa genotype after drought and rewatering treatments using transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics. Drought-treatment, drought control, rewatering-treated, and rewatered control were named as DR, DC, RW, and RC, respectively. Among four comparison groups, DC vs. DR, RC vs. RW, RW vs. DR, and RC vs. DC, we identified 10,292, 2,307, 12,368, and 3 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 215, 192, 132, and 19 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), respectively. A total of 38,670 genes and 142 pathways were annotated. The results of transcriptome and metabolome association analysis showed that gene-LOC110713661 and gene-LOC110738152 may be the key genes for drought tolerance in quinoa. Some metabolites accumulated in quinoa leaves in response to drought stress, and the plants recovered after rewatering. DEGs and DEMs participate in starch and sucrose metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis, which are vital for improving drought tolerance in quinoa. Drought tolerance of quinoa was correlated with gene expression differences, metabolite accumulation and good recovery after rewatering. These findings improve our understanding of drought and rewatering responses in quinoa and have implications for the breeding of new drought-tolerance varieties while providing a theoretical basis for drought-tolerance varieties identification.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Combined to Analyze Quinoa Grain Quality Differences of Different Colors Cultivars

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) has attracted considerable attention owing to its unique nutritional, economic, and medicinal values. Meanwhile, quinoa germplasm resources and grain colors are rich and diverse. In this study, we analyzed the composition of primary and secondary metabolites and the content of the grains of four different high-yield quinoa cultivars (black, red, white, and yellow) harvested 42 days after flowering. The grains were subjected to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and transcriptome sequencing to identify the differentially expressed genes and metabolites. Analysis of candidate genes regulating the metabolic differences among cultivars found that the metabolite profiles differed between white and black quinoa, and that there were also clear differences between red and yellow quinoa. It also revealed significantly altered amino acid, alkaloid, tannin, phenolic acid, and lipid profiles among the four quinoa cultivars. Six common enrichment pathways, including phenylpropane biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, and ABC transporter, were common to metabolites and genes. Moreover, we identified key genes highly correlated with specific metabolites and clarified the relationship between them. Our results provide theoretical and practical references for breeding novel quinoa cultivars with superior quality, yield, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, these findings introduce an original approach of integrating genomics and transcriptomics for screening target genes that regulate the desirable traits of quinoa grain.

Identification of Oxindoleacetic Acid Conjugates in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Seeds by High-Resolution UHPLC-MS/MS

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has a high nutritional value and it contains a high number and high amounts of specialized metabolites. These metabolites include, for example, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. In addition, it is known to contain N-containing metabolites, such as betalains. Here, we report the presence and identification of 14 new oxindoleacetate conjugates in quinoa by high-resolution ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) and ultrahigh-resolution UHPLC-QOrbitrap-MS/MS. The oxindoleacetate conjugates were extracted from dried and ground quinoa seeds using either methanol/water or acetone/water (4:1, v/v) and were further concentrated into aqueous phase and analyzed by UHPLC with reverse-phase chromatography using acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid as eluents. High-resolution hybrid LC-MS/MS techniques, including full scan MS with in-source collision, induced dissociation, and data dependent-MS2(TopN) with stepped normalized collision energies using N2 as collision gas and data-independent acquisition (MSE) using ramped collision energies and argon as collision gas enabled their analysis directly from the crude quinoa seed extract. The oxindoleacetate conjugates were found to be present in both conventional and organic farmed seeds. According to our best knowledge, this is the first time hydroxy-oxindoles have been reported in quinoa.

Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Anticancer Characteristics of Seed Oil from Three Chenopodium quinoa Genotypes

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. is recognized to be an excellent nutrient with high nutritional content. However, few genotypes of quinoa were analyzed, so we found a knowledge gap in the comparison of quinoa seeds of different genotypes. This study aims to compare the physicochemical, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of seed oil from three C. quinoa genotypes. Seeds of three genotypes (white, red, and black) were extracted with hexane and compared in this study. The oil yields of these quinoa seeds were 5.68–6.19% which contained predominantly polyunsaturated fatty acids (82.78–85.52%). The total tocopherol content ranged from 117.29 to 156.67 mg/kg and mainly consisted of γ-tocopherol. Total phytosterols in the three oils ranged from 9.4 to 12.2 g/kg. Black quinoa seed oil had the highest phytosterols followed by red and white quinoas. The chemical profile of quinoa seed oils paralleled by their antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro was positively correlated with the seed coat color. Black quinoa seed oil had the best antioxidant and anti-proliferation effect on HCT 116 cells by the induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which may play more significant roles in the chemoprevention of cancer and other diseases related to oxidative stress as a source of functional foods.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, α-Glucosidase and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Quinoa Extract and Its Fractions

This study is aimed to evaluate the chemical compositions and biological activities of quinoa, a novel and excellent food crop. Quinoa extract and its fractions were prepared by ethanol extraction and liquid-liquid extraction, including ethanol crude extract, and petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate (EAF), and n-butanol and water fractions. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory abilities of the extract and fractions were further determined. Based on these foundations, the chemical composition of the EAF fraction exhibiting the strongest functional activity was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed the EAF fraction had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the highest antioxidant activities, as well as the strongest α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory abilities, which is even better than the positive control. The phytochemical composition of the EAF fraction indicated that 661 and 243 metabolites were identified in positive and negative ion modes, which were classified into superclass, class and subclass levels, respectively. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were the major bioactive compounds in the EAF fraction. This study found that quinoa, especially its ethyl acetate fraction, had the potential for the development of natural antioxidants, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and hypoglycemic agents.

Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Components in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Greens: A Review

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a nutrient-rich grain native to South America and eaten worldwide as a healthy food, sometimes even referred to as a ”superfood”. Like quinoa grains, quinoa greens (green leaves, sprouts, and microgreens) are also rich in nutrients and have health promoting properties such as being antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiobesity, and cardio-beneficial. Quinoa greens are gluten-free and provide an excellent source of protein, amino acids, essential minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Quinoa greens represent a promising value-added vegetable that could resolve malnutrition problems and contribute to food and nutritional security. The greens can be grown year-round (in the field, high tunnel, and greenhouse) and have short growth durations. In addition, quinoa is salt-, drought-, and cold-tolerant and requires little fertilizer and water to grow. Nevertheless, consumption of quinoa greens as leafy vegetables is uncommon. To date, only a few researchers have investigated the nutritional properties, phytochemical composition, and human health benefits of quinoa greens. We undertook a comprehensive review of the literature on quinoa greens to explore their nutritional and functional significance to human health and to bring awareness to their use in human diets.

Nutritional Value and Bioactive Compounds of Leaves and Grains from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa is an important crop for food security and food sovereignty in Ecuador. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional value, bioactive compounds, and antinutrient compounds of leaves and grains of the Ecuadorian quinoa variety Tunkahuan, and we identified significant differences between the nutrient content in the leaves and grains. The quinoa leaves presented a higher protein content than the grains, as well as inorganic nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Both the grains and leaves had an appreciable phenolic content. In addition, the quinoa grains presented a higher content of the antinutrient saponin than the leaves, while the leaves contained more nitrates and oxalates than the grains. Thus, quinoa leaves and grains exhibit excellent potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Technological, Sensory, and Hypoglycemic Effects of Quinoa Flour Incorporation into Biscuits

Background. Biscuits are consumed by all of society in the world. Incorporation of different ratios of quinoa flour into wheat flour for the production of biscuits is needed for the production of functional foods. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the incorporation of 12.5% or 25% quinoa flour into biscuit production, evaluate rheological and sensory characteristics, and investigate the effect of the consumption of 20% cooked biscuits on diabetic rats. Design. The gross chemical composition, total carotenoids, phenolic and flavonoids of wheat flour and quinoa flour, and the rheological properties of the control, 12.5% quinoa, and 25% quinoa biscuit dough were determined. The effects of consumption of 12.5% quinoa and 25% quinoa biscuits on diabetic rats were investigated. Results. Quinoa flour had significantly higher levels of the gross chemical composition except for carbohydrate and increased phenolic compound and flavonoids content than those in wheat flour. Increasing the amount of quinoa flour in the biscuits could increase the farinograph and extensograph values of the dough. Biological results showed that the highest improvement in nutritional values appeared in the diabetic rat group, which consumed 25% quinoa biscuit for 60 days. The consumption of 12.5% quinoa biscuit and 25% quinoa biscuit showed a decline in blood glycosylated hemoglobin and glucose and an elevation in insulin levels compared with the positive control diabetic rat group. Discussion and Conclusion. It is encouraging to replace wheat flour with quinoa flour in biscuit manufacturing owing to positive effects on both the technological properties and sensory evaluation of biscuits. The increase of quinoa flour up to 25% had favorable nutritional values and hypoglycemic effects.

Influence of potato variety on polyphenol profile composition and glycoalcaloid contents of potato juice

The results of studies published in recent years indicate the broad biological activity of potato juice (PJ), which is a byproduct of the starch production process. Among the most frequently described activities are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects. Nevertheless, this waste juice is produced by the processing of many varieties of potatoes with different proportions, which does not allow to conclude on the biological activity of individual varieties. This article is a report on the antioxidant activity of PJ from seven selected potato varieties, their profile of polyphenolic compounds, and the content of glycoalkaloids (GAs). The use of similar cultivation conditions allowed to eliminate the influence of environmental factors on the content of the analyzed compounds. The influence of PJ on the growth of probiotic, commensal, and pathogenic bacteria was also assessed. It was shown that the varieties significantly influenced the differences in antioxidant activity as well as the content of GAs, but despite the observed differences, none of them showed antimicrobial activity. Therefore, it can be concluded that an appropriately selected variety will make it possible to obtain PJ that will be characterized by high antioxidant activity and, at the same time, will be safe from the toxicological point of view.

Characterization of epidermal bladder cells in Chenopodium quinoa

Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa) is considered a superfood with its favourable nutrient composition and being gluten free. Quinoa has high tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity, water deficit (drought) and cold. The tolerance mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Quinoa has epidermal bladder cells (EBCs) that densely cover the shoot surface, particularly the younger parts of the plant. Here, we report on the EBC's primary and secondary metabolomes, as well as the lipidome in control conditions and in response to abiotic stresses. EBCs were isolated from plants after cold, heat, high-light, water deficit and salt treatments. We used untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyse metabolites and untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS) for lipids and secondary metabolite analyses. We identified 64 primary metabolites, including sugars, organic acids and amino acids, 19 secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, betanin and saponins and 240 lipids categorized in five groups including glycerolipids and phospholipids. We found only few changes in the metabolic composition of EBCs in response to abiotic stresses; these were metabolites related with heat, cold and high-light treatments but not salt stress. Na⁺ concentrations were low in EBCs with all treatments and approximately two orders of magnitude lower than K⁺ concentrations.

Healthy values and de novo domestication of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum), a comparative view against Chenopodium quinoa

Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is prized for its well-balanced nutritional properties, broad adaptability in Central Asia and highly therapeutic potentials. It has been considered as a potential climate-resilient crop. Its seed has comparable metabolite profile with Chenopodium quinoa and is rich in proteins, essential amino acids, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phenolics, but low in carbohydrates. Phenolics like protocatechuic acid and quercetins have been characterized with biological functions on regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Sand rice is thus an important source for developing functional and nutraceutical products. Though historical consumption has been over 1300 years, sand rice has undergone few agronomic improvements until recently. Breeding by individual selection has been performed and yield of the best genotype can reach up to 1295.5 kg/ha. Furthermore, chemical mutagenesis has been used to modify the undesirable traits and a case study of a dwarf line (dwarf1), which showed the Green Revolution-like phenotypes, is presented. Utilization of both breeding methodologies will accelerate its domestication process. As a novel crop, sand rice research is rather limited compared with quinoa. More scientific input is urgently required if the nutritional and commercial potentials are to be fully realized.

Biomolecules with Antioxidant Capacity from the Seeds and Sprouts of 20 Varieties of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (Quinoa)

Quinoa has acquired a great interest due to its high content of nutrients and biomolecules that have nutritional and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to compare the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and the antioxidant capacity of 20 varieties of seeds and sprouts of quinoa extract. Quinoa seeds were germinated for 72 h and dried in an oven at 45 °C. The extracts were obtained by dynamic extraction using methanol. Phytochemical analysis with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), TPC, TF, and the antioxidant capacity was carried out and compared between both extracts. The TPC was determined with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, TF with AlCl₃, and the antioxidant capacity was determined according to the DPPH and ABTS assays. Sprout extracts showed high values of TPC (31.28 ± 0.42 mg GAE/g; Pasankalla variety), TF (14.31 ± 0.50 mg EQ/g; black Coito variety), and antioxidant capacity (IC_{50 (DPPH)}: 12.69 ± 0.29 µg/mL and IC_{50 (ABTS):} 3.51 ± 0.04 µg/mL; Pasankalla). The extracts of the Pasankalla variety revealed 93 and 90 phytochemical constituents in the seeds and sprouts, respectively, such as amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, and triterpene saponins, among others. Quinoa sprouts showed a high content of TPC and TF, and high antioxidant capacity compared with seed extracts, especially the Pasankalla variety.

Chenopodium quinoa Exhibits Antihyperglycemic Activity in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of Chenopodium quinoa.

BACKGROUND

Chenopodium quinoa is a pseudocereal plant with several medicinal properties.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this investigation was to determine the antihyperglycemic activity of Chenopodium quinoa in both normal and streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

In this study, the effect of the aqueous extract of Chenopodium quinoa seeds (AECQS) (60 mg/kg) on blood glucose levels was evaluated in both normal and diabetic rats after a single (6 hours) and repeated oral administration (7 days of treatment). The effect of this herb on glucose tolerance and lipid profile was also studied. Additionally, histopathological examination of liver was carried out using the Hematoxylin-Eosin method. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant activity as well as a preliminary phytochemical screening and quantification of some secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins) were performed according to standard methods.

RESULTS

AECQS produced a significant lowering effect on plasma glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, this extract exhibited a remarkable amelioration on hepatic histopathology in diabetic rats. In addition, the extract exerted a remarkable antioxidant activity which could be due to the presence of some compounds found in this herb.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the aqueous extract of Chenopodium quinoa seeds has a favorable effect in controlling diabetes mellitus.

Coarse Cereals and Legume Grains Exert Beneficial Effects through Their Interaction with Gut Microbiota: A Review

Coarse cereals and legume grains (CCLGs) are rich in specific macro- and functional elements that are considered important dietary components for maintaining human health. Therefore, determining the precise nutritional mechanism involved in exerting the health benefits of CCLGs can help understand dietary nutrition in a better manner. Evidence suggests that gut microbiota play a crucial role in the function of CCLGs via their complicated interplay with CCLGs. First, CCLGs modulate gut microbiota and function. Second, gut microbiota convert CCLGs into compounds that perform different functions. Third, gut microbiota mediate interactions among different CCLG components. Therefore, using gut microbiota to expound the nutritional mechanism of CCLGs is important for future studies. A precise and rapid gut microbiota research model is required to screen and evaluate the quality of CCLGs. The outcomes of such research may promote the rapid discovery, classification, and evaluation of CCLG resources, thereby opening a new opportunity to guide nutrition-based development of CCLG products.

Anticancer potential of Chenopodium album leaf extract against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in Swiss albino mice

Background

Chenopodium album (Family: Amaranthaceae) is a nutritive herb mainly found in Bangladesh and had reported that it is having different bioactive phytochemicals including polyphenols. It has a great popularity for it is traditionally used as a medicine against microorganisms, inflammation, and cancer. We designed this experiment to explore the in vivo anticancer effects of C. album leaf extract against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss albino mice.

Results

Administration of C. album leaf extract at concentration 200 (mg/kg) and 400 (mg/kg) showed 30.60% and 41.80% cell growth inhibition respectively that were statistically significant (***P < 0.001) and may lead to apoptosis, and the number of apoptotic cells were 37.5 ± 6.22, 54.67 ± 4.76 respectively (***P < 0.001). Plant extract at concentration 200 (mg/kg) and 400 (mg/kg) increased life span 22.27% and 51.07% respectively. Tumor weight decreased 18.50 ± 2.59 g, 13.67 ± 2.25 g respectively compared to the control group, and results were statistically significant (***P < 0.001). Treatment with plant extract 200 (mg/kg) and 400 (mg/kg) restored all biochemical parameters including hemoglobin content, white blood cell (WBC) count, and red blood cell (RBC) count of EAC cells bearing Swiss albino mice.

Conclusion

Our current findings may suggest that C. album leaf extract showed potent anticancer activity through cell growth inhibition and apoptosis, increased mean survival time, decreased tumor weight, and restored all the biochemical parameters and stimulation of host immunity. As a result, the C. album leaf has taken into consideration as a potent source of bioactive compounds in cancer chemotherapy.

Phytochemical and pharmacological review of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl-a versatile spice used in food and nutrition

Cinnamomum verum is the widely used spice for its medicinal and culinary uses since ages. It is native to Sri Lanka and southern India but also distributed in many Asian, Caribbean, Australian and African countries. It is widely used in food preparations and industrial products like candies, chewing gums, mouthwash and toothpaste. It is also used to treat asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, headache, inflammation and cardiac disorders. Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, caryophyllene, cinnamyl acetate and cinnamic acid are the major compounds found in its essential oil. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, wound healing, anti-HIV, anti-anxiety and antidepressant, etc. This review highlights its comprehensive and up-to-date information on taxonomy, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacological and toxicity activities. Structure-activity relationship, mechanism of action and some research gaps has also been provided. Owing to its immense medicinal importance, more well-designed in-vivo and clinical studies are required.

Changes in bio-accessibility, polyphenol profile and antioxidants of quinoa and djulis sprouts during in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion

This study aimed to evaluate the bio-accessibility of the phenolics and flavonoid, the polyphenolic profile and the antioxidant activity of sprouts obtained from four different quinoa genotypes and one djulis cultivar during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Compared to their content in sprouts, the bioavailable phenolics after the oral phase, the gastric phase, the intestinal phase, and in the dialyzable fraction were in the ranges of 45.7%-63.5%, 87.6%-116.7%, 89.6%-124.5%, and 7.4%-10.9%, respectively. The trend in flavonoid bio-accessibility was similar to the polyphenols. The dialyzable flavonoid recoveries varied between 4.2% and 12.4%. Correspondingly, the free radical scavenging activity of the dialyzable phase decreased significantly from 84.7% to 96.5%. The main phenolic acids were vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid during digestion. The results suggest that gastrointestinal digestion greatly affected the absorption of polyphenols and flavonoid of quinoa and djulis sprouts, as well as their antioxidant capacity.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa) grains: A good source of phenolic compounds

The ingestion of bioactive compounds has revealed health benefits, namely in the prevention and/or treatment of several diseases. This work aims to characterize the phenolic profile of three colour varieties of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. grains (black, red and white), and also evaluate their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. All varieties revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, namely, quercetin and kaempferol derivatives. In this study, quinoa grains did not reveal any anti-proliferative capacity in tumour cell lines, and, as expected, they were devoid of any toxicity. All of the analysed extracts possessed antibacterial and antifungal activities (inhibitory and bactericidal/fungicidal) against the microbial strains considered, exhibiting promising values of minimum bactericidal concentrations (mean MBC 0.153-0.916 mg/mL) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (mean MFC 0.211-0.884 mg/mL). Quinoa varieties represent a good source of bioactive compounds, interfering beneficially in the organism, specifically as antimicrobial agents. Thus, these extracts could be used in the development of bioactive ingredients.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): An Overview of the Potentials of the "Golden Grain" and Socio-Economic and Environmental Aspects of Its Cultivation and Marketization

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is native to the Andean region and has attracted a global growing interest due its unique nutritional value. The protein content of quinoa grains is higher than other cereals while it has better distribution of essential amino acids. It can be used as an alternative to milk proteins. Additionally, quinoa contains a high amount of essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibers, and carbohydrates with beneficial hypoglycemic effects while being gluten-free. Furthermore, the quinoa plant is resistant to cold, salt, and drought, which leaves no doubt as to why it has been called the "golden grain". On that account, production of quinoa and its products followed an increasing trend that gained attraction in 2013, as it was proclaimed to be the international year of quinoa. In this respect, this review provides an overview of the published results regarding the nutritional and biological properties of quinoa that have been cultivated in different parts of the world during the last two decades. This review sheds light on how traditional quinoa processing and products evolved and are being adopted into novel food processing and modern food products, as well as noting the potential of side stream processing of quinoa by-products in various industrial sectors. Furthermore, this review moves beyond the technological aspects of quinoa production by addressing the socio-economic and environmental challenges of its production, consumption, and marketizations to reflect a holistic view of promoting the production and consumption of quinoa.

Influence of Abiotic Stress Factors on the Antioxidant Properties and Polyphenols Profile Composition of Green Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The influence of stress factors on the plant can, on the one hand, lead to worse functioning of the plant and loss of its crop, but on the other, it can have a positive effect on the metabolism of compounds with documented biological activity. In this study, the effect of light and drought intensity on photosynthetic activity and physiological status of two barley varieties, as well as the antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and profile of polyphenolic compounds of green barley were analysed. It was shown that under the conditions of water shortage, the KWS Olof variety showed a smaller decrease in CO2 assimilation and transpiration and higher values of these parameters at both light intensities. Only in the KWS Olof variety increased stress as a result of increased light intensity. It has also been shown that both the intensity of radiation and drought-related stress have a significant impact on the profile of polyphenolic compounds from green barley, without a simple relationship between the impact of stress factors on the content of polyphenols. Changes in the profile of polyphenolic compounds augmented the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the material. This, in turn, proposes the possibility of reducing the applied doses of herbal material thanks to a greater content of active substances in extracts obtained from the plants used to produce medicinal preparations.

Analysis of saponin composition and comparison of the antioxidant activity of various parts of the quinoa plant (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa plant is a valuable food crop because of its high nutritional and functional values. Total saponin content, sapogenins, polyphenol, and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities were analyzed in various parts of quinoa plants, including sprout, seeds, bran, pericarp, leave, stem, and root. Quinoa seeds (QS) had significantly higher sapogenin content than quinoa stem (QT), quinoa leaves (QL), and quinoa roots (QR). Quinoa saponin was mainly composed of phytolaccagenic acid. Quinoa root (QR) had the highest amount of total saponin (13.39 g 100 g-1), followed by quinoa bran. The highest total phenolic content (30.96 mg GAE 100 g-1) and total flavonoid content (61.68 mg RE 100 g-1) were observed in quinoa root extract and 1-month-old sprout extract, respectively. Quinoa sprouts showed better antioxidant activity than fully grown parts of the quinoa plant. Overall, root and sprout had a higher antioxidant capacity compared to other parts of the quinoa plant, suggesting the potential use of quinoa root and sprout as a nutraceutical ingredient in the health food industry.

Effect of a Supplementation with Two Quelites on Urinary Excretion of Arsenic in Adolescents Exposed to Water Contaminated with the Metalloid in a Community in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico

Quelites are Mexican wild plants, reported as excellent sources of nutritional compounds such as amino acids (serine, glycine, and cysteine), minerals (Mg, Fe, and Zn), and phytochemicals, as phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (phloridzin and naringenin); on the other hand, high biological activity has been shown in these compounds. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of a supplementation with two endemic quelites of Mexico (Chenopodium berlandieri L. and Portulaca Oleracea L.); in addition to supplementation, a nutritional intervention was performed; the biomarkers of hemoglobin (Hb), urinary malondialdehyde (UMDA), and urinary arsenic (UAs) were measured in adolescents exposed to arsenic. A clinical intervention study was conducted in 27 adolescents ages 11 to 12 years for 4 weeks. Weekly anthropometric and dietary evaluations were carried out, as well as the concentration of Hb; the UMDA and UAs were performed by plate-based colorimetric measurement and atomic absorption spectrophotometry with the hydrides generation system, respectively. The results showed that UMDA concentrations had a significant improvement in the supplemented group (SG) vs. control group (CG) (SG = 1.59 ± 0.89 µM/g creatinine vs. CG = 2.90 ± 0.56 µM/g creatinine) in the second week of intervention; on the other hand, the supplemented group showed an increase in Hb levels (15.12 ± 0.99 g/dL) in the same week; finally after the second week, an increase in UAs levels was observed significantly compared to the baseline value (Baseline: 56.85; Week 2: 2.02 µg/g creatinine). Therefore, the results show that the mixture of quelites (a rich source of phytochemicals and nutrients) improved hemoglobin and UMDA levels, and urinary arsenic excretion from the second week in the exposed population.

Comparative Examination of Antioxidant Capacity and Fingerprinting of Unfractionated Extracts from Different Plant Parts of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Grown under Greenhouse Conditions

Integrated surveys of metabolic profiles and antioxidant capacity from Chenopodium quinoa have been limited and have particularly focused on an examination of seeds and leaves. According to this, the main aim of the present study was to address an evaluation of the antioxidant activity of crude ethanolic extracts from different plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds) harvested at different times during growth and processed by two distinct drying methods: Air-drying and freeze-drying. In order to characterize the resulting extracts, the total content of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) was then measured through the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant capacity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Parallel to this evaluation, extracts were profiled by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Data analysis was supported by statistics. Most of the extracts obtained from freeze-dried samples showed higher TPC values ranging from 6.02 to 43.47 milligram of gallic acid equivalents per gram of plant material and a TFC between 1.30 and 12.26 milligram of quercetin equivalents per gram of plant material. After statistical analysis, a low correlation between TPC and TFC values was observed regarding antioxidant capacity from DPPH and FRAP measurements of both drying methods. A multivariate analysis showed that antioxidant components and antioxidant capacity in C. quinoa changed during growth and between plant parts and drying methods. These changes need to be taken into consideration when comparing the production/accumulation of beneficial bioactive compounds in this pseudocereal.

Cytotoxic Effects of Chlorophyllides in Ethanol Crude Extracts from Plant Leaves

Chlorophyllide (chlide) is a natural catabolic product of chlorophyll (Chl), produced through the activity of chlorophyllase (chlase). The growth inhibitory and antioxidant effects of chlide from different plant leaf extracts have not been reported. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that chlide in crude extracts from leaves has the potential to exert cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. The potential inhibitory and antioxidant effects of chlide in crude extracts from 10 plant leaves on breast cancer cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231), hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep G2), colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco2), and glioblastoma cells (U-118 MG) were studied using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays. The results of the MTT assay showed that chlide in crude extracts from sweet potato were the most effective against all cancer cell lines tested. U-118 MG cells were the most sensitive, while Caco2 cells were the most resistant to the tested crude extracts. The cytotoxic effects of chlide and Chl in crude extracts from sweet potato and of commercial chlorophyllin (Cu-chlin), in descending order, were as follows: chlide > Chl > Cu-chlin. Notably, the IC₅₀ of sweet potato in U-118 MG cells was 45.65 μg/mL while those of Chl and Cu-chlin exceeded 200 μg/mL. In the DPPH assay, low concentrations (100 μg/mL) of chlide and Cu-chlin from crude extracts of sweet potato presented very similar radical scavenging activity to vitamin B2. The concentration of chlide was negatively correlated with DPPH activity. The current study was the first to demonstrate that chlide in crude extracts from leaves have potential cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. Synergism between chlide and other compounds from leaf crude extracts may contribute to its cytotoxicity.

Quinoa Secondary Metabolites and Their Biological Activities or Functions

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) was known as the "golden grain" by the native Andean people in South America, and has been a source of valuable food over thousands of years. It can produce a variety of secondary metabolites with broad spectra of bioactivities. At least 193 secondary metabolites from quinoa have been identified in the past 40 years. They mainly include phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and nitrogen-containing compounds. These metabolites exhibit many physiological functions, such as insecticidal, molluscicidal and antimicrobial activities, as well as various kinds of biological activities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on our knowledge of the structures, biological activities and functions of quinoa secondary metabolites. Biosynthesis, development and utilization of the secondary metabolites especially from quinoa bran were prospected.

Effect of Thermal Processing on Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Waste Potato Juice

Potato juice (PJ), commonly considered a burdensome waste, is rich in various compounds with bioactive properties. It has long been considered a remedy for gastric problems in traditional folk medicine. If valorization of PJ through implementation in the production of functional foods is to be considered, stabilization methods must be developed to allow long-term storage of this seasonal product. It is important that such methods are chosen with regard to their effect on the bioactive value of the obtained product. In this study, the impact of four stabilization methods on the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of PJ was investigated. Elevated temperatures were used in thermal deproteinization used to obtain DPJW (deproteinated potato juice water) and spray-drying of FPJ (fresh potato juice) that resulted in SDPJ. Freeze drying and cryoconcentration were the low temperature processing methods that yielded PJL (potato juice lyophilisate) and CPJ (cryocorncentrated potato juice), respectively. All processed materials were characterized chemically and compared with raw materials in terms of phenolic compounds content, antioxidant activity as well as cytotoxicity to human tumor cells isolated from the gastric mucosa (Hs476T cell line), colon (Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines), and normal cells isolated from the small intestine and colon epithelium (IEC-6 and NCM460 cell lines). It was stated that high-temperature processes – thermal deproteinization and spray-drying – yielded products with increased antioxidant potential (TEAC) that also showed increased cytotoxic activity towards intestinal cancer cells. At the same time the cytotoxicity towards normal cells remained on par with that of fresh PJ (IEC-6 cells) or decreased (NCM460 cells). Thermal deproteinization significantly decreased the content of glycoalcaloids in the juice, while spray drying did not have such an effect. The two low-temperature processes investigated – cryoconcentration and freeze drying – did not affect the PJ cytotoxic activity towards any of the cell lines used in the tests, whereas they did affect the antioxidant properties and glycoalcaloids content of PJ.

Influence of Drying Temperature on Phenolic Acids Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Sprouts and Leaves of White and Red Quinoa

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of drying temperature on the phenolic acids profile and antioxidant activity of sprouts and leaves red and white Chenopodium quinoa (RQ and WQ, respectively). Four-day sprouts and leaves dried at 30, 45, and 60°C were tested. All sprouts contained significant amounts of phenolic compounds; however, higher content was determined in the RQ sprouts. Phenolic compounds from WQ sprouts seem to be thermostable in the studied temperature range, whereas total phenolics content in RQ sprouts decreased significantly after drying in the 60°C. Content of vanillic and p-coumaric acids did not differ significantly between sprouts dried at the same conditions; however, their level decreased in the high temperature. Irrespective of the drying temperature, higher activity against ABTS free radicals and reducing power was observed in the case of RQ sprouts extracts. Sprouts dried at 30°C had a higher ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. RQ sprouts were characterized by about two times higher antioxidant activity regardless of the method used. No significant differences between total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids content in RQ and LQ leaves were found. In the both cases, decrease of TPC was observed after drying in the highest temperature. The leaves do not differ too much in terms of the phenolic acids profile, whereas the differentiating factor is thermal processing. Leaves of both quinoa contained thermostable compounds able to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. Reducing power and ability to scavenge OH radicals were correlated with all components of quinoa sprouts which suggest synergism between them and does not indicate the key role of a particular compound in creating antioxidant capacity. Germination and subsequent oven-drying at 30°C of quinoa seeds significantly increased the antioxidant properties compared with raw seeds. Also, in the case of leaves, the best results were obtained after drying at 30°C.