Nutritional Components of Amaranth Seeds and Vegetables: A Review on Composition, Properties, and Uses

Abstract

A few decades ago Amaranthus was rediscovered as a most promising plant genus that may provide high-quality protein, unsaturated oil, and various other valuable constituents. Since then research has focused on various Amaranthus spp. and has been rapidly expanding, and a large number of reports have been published. Several review articles focusing on different aspects, such as botanical, agrotechnological, compositional, biological, chemical, and technological properties, as well as applications and health effects, have also been published since then. This comprehensive review is focused on amaranth composition, antioxidant properties, applications, and processing. The composition includes macrocomponets (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber) and other important constituents, such as squalene, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, phytates, and vitamins. These aspects of amaranth studies have not been comprehensively reviewed for a long time.

Effect of Amaranth addition on the nutritional composition and consumer acceptability of extruded provitamin A-biofortified maize snacks

“…The results confirm what is documented in the literature that Amaranth leaves and grains are nutritionally superior to cereal grains (Venskutonis & Kraujalis, 2013;Escudero et al, 1999;Makobo et al, 2010). …”

“…As a rich source of nutrients (including protein and essential amino acids) (Venskutonis & Kraujalis, 2013;Alegbejo, 2013), Amaranth leaf powder would improve the nutrient content of food it is added to, such as snacks (Chavez-Jauregui et al, 2003).…”

“…Green leafy vegetables, like Amaranth and quinoa leaves, are reported to be good sources of minerals and provitamin A carotenoids (Cardoso et al, 2009;Beswa et al, 2016;Diaz et al, 2013). Amaranthus species are high in vitamins, including β-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin C, (Mampholo et al, 2015;Venskutonis & Kraujalis, 2013). The Amaranthus species are well adapted to the sub-Saharan Africa region, where they grow in the wild in abundance.…”

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using pod extract of Cola nitida enhances antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of Amaranthus caudatus Linn

“…It cleanses the blood and is used to treat kidney disease and jaundice. It possesses antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-helminthic, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antipyretic properties which are due to its high polyphenolic contents (Ashok Kumar et al 2011;Girija et al 2011;Venskutonis and Kraujalis 2013;Miraj 2016).…”

Antioxidant Activity of Lupine Seeds in Nile Tilapia Fish (O. niloticus) Suspected to Oxidative Stress Induced by Neemazal T/S

“…In addition, lupine seeds have an ameliorating effect on glucose tolerance test in the fish Clarias gariepinus (Al-Salahy and Mahmoud, 2004). It had been suggested that lupine seeds might have higher antioxidant activity and contains a high amount of arginine, aspartate and glycine (Oomah et al, 2006), tocopherols (Venskutonis and Kraujalis, 2013).…”