Phytoecdysteroids and flavonoid glycosides among Chilean and commercial sources of Chenopodium quinoa: variation and correlation to physico‐chemical characteristics

Abstract

BACKGROUND Little is known about varietal differences in the content of bioactive phytoecdysteroids (PE) and flavonoid glycosides (FG) from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). The aim of this study was to determine the variation in PE and FG content among seventeen distinct quinoa sources and identify correlations to genotypic (highland vs. lowland) and physicochemical characteristics (seed color, 100-seed weight, protein content, oil content). RESULTS PE and FG concentrations exhibited over 4-fold differences across quinoa sources, ranging from 138 ± 11 μg/g to 570 ± 124 μg/g total PE content and 192 ± 24 μg/g to 804 ± 91 μg/g total FG content. Mean FG content was significantly higher in highland Chilean varieties (583.6 ± 148.9 μg/g) versus lowland varieties (228.2 ± 63.1 μg/g) grown under the same environmental conditions (P = 0.0046; t-test). Meanwhile, PE content was positively and significantly correlated with oil content across all quinoa sources (r = 0.707, P = 0.002; Pearson correlation). CONCLUSION FG content may be genotypically regulated in quinoa. PE content may be increased via enhancement of oil content. These findings may open new avenues for the improvement and development of quinoa as a functional food.

Trade‐off between seed yield components and seed composition traits in sea level quinoa in response to sowing dates

“…Our results suggest that these factors affected protein and fat accumulations and seed size in a way which is not related to the distribution of nutrients among different tissues within the seed and point out the specific environmental and genetic effects on each of these components. The positive association found between embryo/seed size and lipid content is consistent with results found previously in quinoa (Graf et al., ; Miranda et al., ), the negative association with protein content contrast with results found in those studies. On the other hand, the correlations found in this study are consistent with results found in sunflower for seed oil concentration (where changes were also explained by those in seed weight and not by the embryo relative proportion) (Aguirrezábal et al., ).…”

Innovations in Health Value and Functional Food Development of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

“…Among edible agricultural crops, quinoa seeds contain the highest levels of phytoecdysteroids (Table ), polyhydroxlyated steroids that are structurally related to insect molting hormones involved in plant defense (Dinan ) and documented to exert a myriad of biological activities in mammals relevant to human health. Quinoa has been shown to contain a range of 138 to 570 μg/g total phytoecdysteroids (Graf and others ). At least 13 different phytoecdysteroids have been isolated from quinoa seeds, of which 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20HE) (Figure C) was the most abundant (62% to 90% of total phytoecdysteroids).…”

“…At least 13 different phytoecdysteroids have been isolated from quinoa seeds, of which 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20HE) (Figure C) was the most abundant (62% to 90% of total phytoecdysteroids). The second most abundant set of phytoecdysteroids in quinoa include makisterone A, 24‐epi‐makisterone A, and 24(28)‐dehydromakisterone A (Zhu and others ; Kumpun and others ; Graf and others , ).…”

“…Though NIRS may not be applicable for the determination of secondary metabolite concentration in quinoa seeds, a method to rapidly leach the total amount of phytoecdysteroids and flavonol glycosides available in quinoa seeds, without sample destruction, has recently been developed by Graf and others (, ) for application in phytochemical analysis of quinoa varieties. Further work is needed to determine the variation in phytosterols, phenolic acids, betalains, and glycine betaine among quinoa sources, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that influence their concentrations.…”

Combined Use of Deep Eutectic Solvents, Macroporous Resins, and Preparative Liquid Chromatography for the Isolation and Purification of Flavonoids and 20-Hydroxyecdysone from Chenopodium quinoa Willd

“…Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa) is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the Andean region and is well known as a functional food and nutraceutical source rich in essential amino acids, unsaturated fats, phytoecdysteroids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, betalains, and saponins, which can allegedly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. For example, flavonoids are commonly used to treat and prevent diabetes and obesity [32,33], while 20-hydroxyecdysone is believed to exhibit antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties [34,35].…”